Tim Howell

Floyd Howell, known as Tim to most, passed away on August 6, 2024 at the age of 75. Despite the past 7 years of facing the pure garbage that is Alzheimer's disease, Tim was ever defiant in not allowing it to rob him of his trademark humor, wit, love of family, and emphatic declaration that "life is good."
And it was. He always meant it. Despite an unfathomably difficult childhood and odds stacked against him, Tim took immense pride in the life he built alongside his devoted wife, Laurie. After a beautiful 40 years of marriage, Tim is survived by Laurie, his 6 children: Tim (Ceri), Jessica (Trey), Mackenzie (Adam), Dylan (Carrie), Molly (Matt), and Morgan, as well as 13 grandchildren who will miss him dearly.
Tim was a creative soul and a lover of words and music. Blessed (or cursed– as he'd say, tongue in cheek) with a proclivity for puns and dad-joke style humor, Tim's playfulness was contagious; he took satisfaction in the small army of cheeseballs he essentially created by captive audience. Tim had both a lightness and a depth, and the bulk of his poetry and songwriting centered on heartfelt tributes to the people and things he held most dear.
Tim was a self-taught musician, though one would never know it. Inspired by his all-time favorites of Bob Dylan and Neil Young, he expertly played harmonica and multiple string instruments. Tim enjoyed the thrill of performing on stage, but found special meaning in sharing his talents while volunteering for hospice and nursing homes.
To his core, Tim was a man of faith. He thanked Gd for everything in his life and never took a day for granted. He was a lifelong learner and was always looking for opportunities to know better and do better.
Tim was a huge dog lover and had a steady supply of canine sidekicks throughout his life. Despite a large family, he was always the dogs' (or doglets, as he would call them) favorite human. His love of animals was not limited to dogs; even up until his final days he would cheekily grin at the memory of bringing home Snortle, a random pet pig, for his wife's birthday.
To detail all the beautiful qualities, memories, and eccentricities of Tim's life would take a novel, but for the sake of brevity– and in a style he would undoubtedly enjoy– a poem:
Loving Dad to sons and daughters.
Power napper. Seltzer water.
Gardener extraordinaire.
Ever-changing facial hair.
He drove the truck. He loved to sing.
And he could fix most anything.
Skydives. Ziplines. Bright blue eyes.
Bikes for bagels at sunrise.
Kind and never met a stranger.
Expert furniture arranger.
Best holiday lights in the neighborhood.
Meteor showers. "Life is good."
Pool shark. Pinball. Gambling man.
"That's the ticket." Our biggest fan.
Family trips. House on the lake.
Donuts and Little Debbies cakes.
Grand adventures with his wife.
Ever "blessed" for his full life.
So many things, yet so much more.
Ready to "knock on heaven's door."