Carol G. Howell, born Carol Adelle Gilbert, died of cancer on Tuesday, May 11th, 2021. Carol was born in Sacramento, California to Erwin A. and Hester Virginia (Almond) Gilbert on September 18, 1941.
Carol met the love of her life, Keith Burroughs Howell, while attending University of California – Davis. They were married August 17, 1963. They moved to Carmel, California after graduation where Keith practiced as a veterinarian in an animal hospital. Keith later transferred to Maryland where Keith worked for the state of Maryland. They resided in Davidsonville, Maryland. There Keith and Carol bred and exhibited Shetland Sheepdogs under the kennel name, Jade Mist Shelties. Keith also showed horned Hereford cows.
Carol’s first sheltie was bred by a classmate of Keith’s. His name was “Robbie”. He wasn’t a conformation dog, but he did excel in Obedience during his short three years of life. Carol and Keith attended many dogs shows and purchased many dogs from smaller unknown kennels. None turned out to be a show dog. They were finally offered a puppy by the best known breeder in California, Valerie Daniels of Dan-Dee Shelties. They named the puppy Dan-Dee Study in Scarlet, “Susie.” Just a few months later, Valerie offered Carol and Keith Susie’s dam, “Petite.” Petite was Carol’s first champion in 1967, the start of many champions. Susie became the foundation for Carol’s breeding program.
Carol’s heart dog was the one she had when Keith died of cancer in 1991, “Dillon”, otherwise known as CH Jade Mist Beyond Tradition ROM. He was the sire of 56 champions. Carol also had other dogs that are on the ROM list: CH Jade Mist Memorandum, CH Ilemist As You Like It, Regalia Geneagle Keepsake, and Jade Mist New Sun Rising. ROM means that the dog had to sire 10 or more champions or if a female, then 5 or more champions.
Carol’s most lasting influence is all the dogs she provided to people as their companions. There was a Jamboree held for ten years where people that have Jade Mist puppies gather together, let their puppies play, their owners socialize, and they had food, prizes, and games. Carol often attended this jamboree, which was often held near her home in Davidsonville, MD.
Carol was also willing to help many new people break into shelties and mentored several people. She often sold some of her best to them to help them start their kennels. Many of the current kennels and breeders of today have Jade Mist shelties in their pedigrees.
Carol is survived by her sister, Nancy E Postlethwaite, nieces Joan and Amy, and nephew Ron. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Keith in 1991, her brother, David in 2012, and a nephew Brian. She was greeted at the rainbow bridge by the hundreds of shelties that she has bred or as been as “Grandma Carol.” She is missed by her many friends and those she has mentored.
Sources:
(1) Facebook, written by Patti O’Dell in memory of Carol Howell
(2) Flickr, photographed by Ken Foreman, during the 10th Anniversary of the Jade Mist Jamboree