James Dean "Jim" Howard, 77, of Dawsonville, died Oct. 31, 2012.

He was retired from Norfolk Southern Railway after 38 years of service.

His sisters, Geraldine Ryder, Betty Ward and Kathleen Caine, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his children, Pam and Dave Holloway of Lawrenceville, Keith and Carol Howard of Palm Harbor, Fla., Trina and David Blackwell of Dawsonville; grandchildren, Sean and Ami Roach of Dacula, Justin and Emily Roach of Auburn, Kevin and Faith Blackwell of Lilburn, Brandon and Laura Howard of Savannah, Josh Blackwell of Lawrenceville; great-grandchildren, Rachel Mackenzie Roach, Will Cottier-Blackwell, Cheyanne Roach, James Levi Roach, Calin and Julian Howard; sisters, Bobbie Shoemake and Ann Martin, both of Cumming; brother-in-law, Roy Caine of Cumming; various other relatives also survive.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Ingram Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Harold Bottoms officiating. Entombment followed in the Sawnee View Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.

Ingram Funeral Home and Crematory of Cumming was in charge of the arrangements.