08/03/2023
Brothers, family and friends,
Yesterday masonry lost one it’s greatest ever when Worshipful Brother Ray Howard Coltrane lay down his working tools.
WB Howard was 96 years old and a resident at WhiteStone: A Masonic & Eastern Star Community. A graveside service will held at 2:00 PM Friday, August 4th at Melanchthon Lutheran Church Cemetery in Liberty.
WB Brother Howard was born in Liberty, NC and lived in Siler City until moving to Greensboro. He served as a Vice President with Oakwood Mobile Homes until he retired. WB Howard became a Master Mason in the Siler City Lodge No. 403 on June 18, 1953. When he moved to Greensboro, he joined P. P. Turner Lodge No. 746 in 1975 where he became master of the lodge. WB Howard was a charter member of our very own MESH Lodge No. 771. He was a current member of the Liberty Masonic Lodge No. 714 and MESH Lodge No. 771. He received the Joseph Monfort Medal in 2000, an award given to only three Masons per year for their outstanding service to the fraternity. WB Howard coached over fifty brothers to become Masons and countless others to learn the work. He was a Mason’s Mason, never turning away a brother willing to learn and a living example of our principles. Despite his many accomplishments, he was one of the most humble brothers one could meet.
If you were fortunate enough to know Worshipful Brother Howard, you are blessed! He wasn’t just a good Mason, he was the definition of a good man. If you have ever met with him, you know he always said at the end of every visit, “if I don’t see you before, I’ll see you in the rapture”. Brother Howard, we will miss you until then!
Rest well Brother!