Christen F. "Chris" Howell

April 26, 1952 – June 7, 2011
"There's a piano in the woods playing who'd a thunk it…"
Christen F. (Chris) Howell, age 59, devoted husband and amazing father, a resident of Hatch Bend, Florida, passed away at the Suwannee Valley Hospice Care Center in Lake City, Florida, on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. His loving family was by his side, holding his hands as his heroic battle with cancer ended.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, April 26, 1952, Chris was the son of William M. (Mac) and Bernis M. (Chris) Howell. A few months after his birth, his parents returned to Hatch Bend where he lived until his graduation from Branford High School in 1970.
During his high school years, he was, among other achievements, senior class president, president of student council, member of Future Farmers of America, as well as fullback on the football team. After graduation, he moved to Key West to attend Florida Keys Community College, earning a degree in Marine Biology. On New Year's Eve 1971, he met his future wife, Molly deWit, beginning their lifelong love story. He joined the U.S. Navy in December 1972, completing training as an Ocean Systems Technician. His first duty station was the Naval Facility in Barbados, West Indies. In December 1976, he received a reassignment to the USS Bronstein in San Diego, California, as the Senior Repair Technician of the ship's towed array sonar system. He visited many ports of call around the world, spending a total of 281 days at sea. In January 1978, he received an honorable discharge from the Navy.
Chris was a man of many talents, an adventurous spirit, and a lifelong curiosity about the world and its inhabitants. After leaving the Navy, he lived in The Netherlands for a year, making many friends. He returned to California to attend Grossmont College, graduating in 1980 with a degree in Instructional Media, which served to refine his innate ability in art and photography. Throughout his life, he created hundreds of beautiful photographs, as well as many wonderful paintings and drawings.
Again becoming restless for new challenges, he moved to Caracas, Venezuela, in 1981 to help organize the rock and roll band 'Fornax,' playing guitar, designing posters, orchestrating the light show, as well as composing much of their music. While there, he perfected his Spanish, singing many songs in both Spanish and English. Upon his return from Venezuela in 1982, he moved to Miami to start his video production and photography business.
In 1988, he and Molly reconnected and he joined her and her children, David and Megan, in San Antonio, Texas. They were married on June 2, 1989. While in Texas, Chris worked as shop supervisor and chief mechanic for D-Power Automotive, restoring exotic automobiles. He also worked as a prototype fabricator for Continental Water Systems, developing, constructing, and modifying high purity water treatment systems.
In 1995, Molly accepted an assignment to RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom, an amazing adventure that would not have taken place without his encouragement. While there, Chris graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Maryland, achieving dual History and Political Science degrees, and election to Phi Kappa Phi for his superior scholarship.
They moved to Utah in 1998 where he worked as General Manager and Restoration Specialist for The Classic Cycle Company in Layton.In March 2002, he began working at Hill Air Force Base as an Electrical Equipment Repairer. While there, he received an Idea Award for his suggestion to improve cooling of the aircraft generator focus coil in performance testing.
In 2004, he returned to Hatch Bend, building a beautiful homestead for him and Molly on a portion of his parent's farm. During his final years, he developed a wonderful sense of peace from the land that held so many fond memories for him.
Survivors include wife Molly; son David, Gainesville, GA; daughter Megan and her fiancé, Brett Hoopingarner, Murfreesboro, TN; brother Alan (Mattie Sue) Howell, Bell, FL; sister Janet (Ernest) Kelley, Branford, FL; aunt Shirley Howard; aunt Edna Douglass; nieces Jennifer Kelley Lublin and Elizabeth Kelley Johnston; numerous cousins, as well as his special furry companions Footsie, Moggy, and Ducati.
Preceded in death by parents Mac and Chris Howell; grandparents: William F. and Ruth Kemp Howell, Alfred and Dorothy Walkemeyer Christensen.
The family will hold a memorial service at their farm on October 1, 2011, at 3:00 pm. Please call for directions. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the family for a memorial gift to the Suwannee Valley Hospice Care Center.
Daniels Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Please leave condolences for the family at
http://danielsfuneralhome.com