Gene C. Howard

Gene C. Howard Together Again Surrounded by family, our beloved father, grandfather and brother, Gene C. Howard, 64, passed away peacefully Nov. 17, 2007, after a courageous battle with cancer. He now joins his beloved Orchid-Marie who passed away from cancer June 27. He will be very deeply missed.Gene was born March 16, 1943, in Sandy, Utah, to Lola Johnson Howard and H. W. "Herb" Howard. He grew up in Midvale, attending local schools and was graduated from Jordan High School in 1961. As a boy he liked to swim and ride his bike and play in the band. From 1962 to 1964, he served in the Florida Mission. Upon his return he worked as a printer for the LDS Church, and it was there he met Orchid-Marie, and, "the rest is history." They were married Oct. 30, 1968, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They settled in Granger and raised a family. Gene was a self-taught printer, and worked in that industry for more than 30 years. He was employed in the print shops of the LDS Church, the State of Utah, and Zion's Bank. Whether it was with his father, children, nieces, nephews, or others, one of his favorite pastimes was fishing. (He even tied his own flies.) Many remember the good times spent in his company with a rod, a reel, and a bunch of snacks. He was so fun to be around! He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed joking, teasing, and being teased. He was a great storyteller and a good conversationalist. His knowledge on a broad-range of topics was self-taught: he educated himself by reading magazines, books, newspapers and watching instructional TV. This enabled him to give great advice and in his humble way, he made sure you knew he wasn't telling you what to do, it was just his opinion. He also had a gift of explaining complexities in a way that was easy to understand. Gene loved to drive. Anywhere. Everywhere. And especially in the mountains with Orchid-Marie. He also loved, at times, to drive fast. But he was protected from accidents in his many escapades by his superb driving skills and what we determined to be a very weary legion of guardian angels. (Incidentally, those were some of his best stories!) Dad made the best pancakes and barbecued chicken. He had a green thumb and it seemed he could grow anything. Roses were his favorite and he tended a beautiful rose garden. He loved fresh homegrown vegetables and fruits and often had a vegetable garden. Gene had a kind heart and always wanted to be fair. He is survived by his children and their spouses, Gina and Brian Worthen, Lola and Lloyd Plumb, Eli Howard, Elizabeth and Travis Larsen; his grandchildren, Rachel Worthen, Samantha Worthen, Dallas Howard, Sydni Jones, Tazz Jones and Afton Christensen; his sister, Janice Talbot; his brother, Allen Howard; and many dearly loved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, two brothers and two sisters. Funeral services are at noon Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007, at the Harman LDS Ward, 4634 W. Harman Drive (3700 South). Friends may call from 79 p.m. Friday at Russon Brothers Salt Lake Mortuary, 255 S. 200 East, and at the church on Saturday from 10-11:30 a.m. Burial will be at the Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 E. 1300 South, Salt Lake City. Online guestbook and directional maps are available at www.russonmortuary.com.