Noreen Hyslop photo Jennifer Howard (at left), and her sister-in-law, Katie Howard, both graduated in May from the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry. One will set up practice soon in Dexter and the other will be moving to Florence, Alabama.

They shared a college dorm, each other's clothes, opinions, hair conditioner and books and now they share a name and the title "Doctor" that precedes that name. Kathryn Ann "Katie" Howard and Jennifer Kay Howard are both optometrists, having recently completed their degrees at the University of Missouri- St. Louis College of Optometry.

The story of Dr. Katie Howard and Dr. Jennifer Howard began nearly four years ago, when, after advertising in the UMSL campus paper for a roommate, Jennifer met up with Katie, who was looking for a roommate as well. The two were immediately compatible and not only roomed together for the next three and one-half years, but became best of friends in the process.

What greater compliment between friends is there than to introduce a best friend to one's own very single, handsome brother?

"I brought Jennifer home to Dexter one weekend in 2005," recalls Katie, a 2002 Dexter High School graduate, "to introduce her to my brother, David."

"That weekend, though," Jennifer chimes in, "David was too busy turkey hunting to meet me!"

The match made in heaven would have to wait for a later date, and it did. Eventually, the two returned to Katie's hometown of Dexter and for Katie's brother, David, it was love at first sight. It wasn't long before the best friends became related through marriage.

"It was actually kind of nice," she recalls, "because I got to meet all the family first."

"It's not every girl who can pick their sister-in-law," Katie smiles.

Katie, who spent the first few years of her post-high school education at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, is a 2002 graduate of Dexter High School and entered UMSL before even completing her bachelor's degree. Katie is the daughter of Marty and Phyllis Howard and says she wanted to become an optometrist for about as long as she can remember.

"I recall having an interest in optometry when I was about in the fourth grade, but my second grade teacher recently ran into my mother and said she was remembered while I was in her classroom stating that I would be an eye doctor some day," Katie says.

For Jennifer, the choice in careers didn't come quite so easily, in spite of the influence that must have come from her parents, Drs. Terry and Gerri Lawson of Tulsa Oklahoma, both of whom are doctors of optometry.

"I resisted the idea at first, but eventually realized that it's exactly where I need to be," she now attests.

Jennifer has fond memories of joining her father years ago, long before she earned her optometry degree, on a missionary trip to Tanzania, Africa, where they worked to provide eyewear for those who otherwise would never experience what proper vision is like.

While trying to decide between a career as a medical doctor or one in optometry, Jennifer's father told her that she needed to make the African trip with him before she made a decision.

"He told me that I needed to see the bad side because this will be part of your responsibility too as an optometrist to help the less fortunate and if you still wish to be an eye doctor after the experience, then you have my blessing."

Jennifer went and she received her parents' blessing.

"My father is the head of our church's mission committee and has gone to Africa on mission work with our church in Tulsa for as long as I can remember and when I went with him, I was just so struck by the culture and the way the people manage without any of the luxuries that we take for granted on a daily basis."

For that reason, Jennifer has returned to Tanzania over the years and two years ago, when her father couldn't make the trip, invited Katie to accompany her.

"It was an amazing experience," says Katie, and it's one that both of us hope to continue to share.

The African trip was a humbling one for the two girls.

"For many of the people we saw there," says Katie, "their only hope was that we make it possible for them to read their Bibles."

The two don't share quite as much as they used to during their days at UMSL, where they spent nearly four years as roommates with two other students. These days, Jennifer shares a life with David, who heads up his own agriculture consultant operation locally and much of her time these days is spent preparing to move into her very own practice near downtown Dexter. Next month she will be housed in the old "Candyland" building situated on Walnut Street just north of the tracks.

Although the doctors/sisters-in-law/best friends hope some day to practice together, Katie will be leaving the area before long to begin practicing in Florence, Alabama with two male optometrists.

"I'll miss home," she says, "but I love the area of Florence and I am looking forward to beginning my career there."

The two Howards are committed not only to their promising careers in the field of optometry just on the horizon, but as well to the efforts internationally that promise to make lives better for those who have not been afforded the opportunities that many of us take for granted. At 24 and 26 years old, they seem to have their priorities in proper order.