Thomas J. Howe
Thomas James Howe, of Pinebluff, died Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, at his home, from cancer discovered in August.
Tom was born July 28, 1937, in Hamlet, to the late Mary James and Francis William Howe.Tom graduated from high school from Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N.H. and attended the Animal Husbandry Division at the School of Agriculture, University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H. He also attended two sessions at the Graham School, Garrett, Kan., that included classroom and hands-on training in the cattle industry.
Tom grew up in Williamsville, N.Y. and Pinehurst. He moved to Pinebluff in 1957 to operate Aurora Hills Dairy Farm for several years. He then worked for his father’s nursery and landscape business at Clarendon Gardens, Pinehurst. He continued farming in Pinebluff growing corn, hay and vegetables. He always provided a home for horses and a variety of farm animals. He encouraged waterfowl habitat at his lake, surrounded by protected wetlands.
In 1959, he married Nancy Johnston, of Buffalo, N.Y. In 1969 they started Aurora Hills Farm Nursery and Landscape business at the farm in Pinebluff. The business continues today under the management of his sons. Tom always credited the success of his business to the hard work and loyalty of his employees.
The Howes owned a cottage at Wrightsville Beach for 30 years and also have a home in Nebraska, a community in Hyde County.
Tom was among the group of citizens who helped form the original plan for the consolidation of local high schools that became Pinecrest High School. He was also on the planning board for The O’Neal School, where his sons and grandchildren eventually attended. He continued to volunteer his time as a landscaper at both schools over the next decades.
He used his tree farm, bordered by Pinebluff Lake Road and the CSX Railroad, as a place to protect wildlife and practice conservation methods to restore and enhance the longleaf pine ecosystem through use of the following programs: the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and the N.C. Forest Development Program. Whether planting young longleaf seedlings, disking wildlife patches for bobwhite quail, or conducting prescribed burns, the tree farm was Tom’s legacy for his zeal and enthusiasm for the environment and the outdoors.
Tom is survived by his wife; his sisters, Mary Francis (Muff) Howe Tate (Robert), of Southern Pines, Susan Howe Wain (Charlie), of Wrightsville Beach, and Pittsburgh, Pa.; son, Thomas (Tommy) James Howe Jr. (Angela Grogan), of Pinebluff, and her daughters, Jorden Denny (Ryan), Keely and Riley Robinson; son, William Johnston (Johnny) Howe (Angela Nesser), of Pinebluff. Also surviving are grandsons, Gage (Lori), Bo, Webber, and Cody Howe, granddaughter, Daniella Howe; two great-grandsons, a nephew, and two nieces.
