Cecil J. Howard went to be with his Savior on Monday afternoon, December 20th 2010, in the pulmonary unit at North Colorado Medical Center. Cecil passed away with his wife, children, and close friends from the Mary Vialpando family at his side. During the 12 years following his miraculous recovery from meningitis/encephalitis in 1998, Cecil was able to be actively involved in the lives of his grandchildren.
Cecil was born in Camden, Arkansas on November 28th 1930, to Zelta and W.C. Howard. He grew up in Arkansas, Alabama, and Louisiana, graduating in 1948 from Bossier City High School in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Cecil met Shirley Shaklee at Southwestern Bible College in Waxahachie, Texas in the fall of 1953. They were married in 1955 at the Community Methodist Church in Keenesburg, Colorado. They have two children, Jonathan Howard of Round Rock, Texas, and Jennifer Howard, of Moscow, Russia. Jonathan's wife is Lucy and Cecil's three grandchildren are Emily, Jonathan Aaron, and Elizabeth, all of Round Rock, Texas
He put himself through college working a full-time job at Chance-Vought, a military aircraft manufacturer located in the Dallas area. Cecil's college education was interrupted by the Navy drafting him in the fall of 1955. He served in the Pacific aboard the minesweepers USS Peacock and USS Firm. He was honorably discharged in 1957. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from North Texas State University in Denton.
Cecil taught high school history at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, Texas for four years before relocating to the Kersey, Colorado area in 1966. He taught at Chappelow Elementary in Evans, and Heath Junior High School in Greeley, until he retired in 1986. He always encouraged his students to pursue excellence in both curricular and extracurricular activities.
He fellowshipped at First Church of the Nazarene in Greeley and was active in a seniors group at First Assembly of God in Greeley. He served on a multi-church travel committee planning trips for the seniors groups. The final trip he helped plan was to the Steamboat Springs Balloon Festival in July 2010.
Cecil enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, and keeping in touch with old friends and classmates. He was also fond of finding rare pieces of Camark pottery in flea markets. Camark was produced in Cecil's home town. He was known for his cream can dinners that he loved to prepare for seniors groups he was a member of. He loved to brag on his grandkids. He had been an active member of the Kersey Lions Club since 1968 and served on the board of the Kersey Senior Center and was active in the Kersey Seniors group activities.
Cecil loved to grow tomatoes in the southern tradition of "staking" and "pinching the suckers off." He loved to hunt and fish with his buddy, Al Tesch. Al passed away earlier in 2010, and Cecil missed him greatly. He didn't really like cats, but Thor, his daughter's Russian Orange Tabby, adopted Cecil as his "person" and insisted that he provide a warm lap to nap on in the evenings and companionship on daily walks. Thor misses Cecil's lap and his daily walks alongside him.
Cecil is survived by his wife and friend of 55 years (because they would rather fight than switch), Shirley June; his son, Jonathan, daughter-in-law Lucy, grandchildren Emily Lucille, Jonathan Aaron, and Elizabeth Naomi, all of Round Rock, Texas; his daughter, Jennifer Mary Christine, of Moscow, Russia; three sisters and their spouses: Nell and Delmar Bolin, Ann and Vic Snyder, and Mary Elizabeth and Maynard Miller, all of Harrison, Arkansas; and a host of relatives from Mount Pleasant Thicket, Arkansas. Cecil's parents and his brother, Johnny Ray, preceded him in death.
A funeral service to celebrate Cecil's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at the Greeley First Church of the Nazarene, 2515 W. 16th Street. Interment Linn Grove Cemetery. Visitation 1 hour prior to the service at the church.
Cecil supported Royal Family Kids Camp, founded by Wayne Tesch, for many years. Memorial contributions may be made to Royal Family Kids Camps or the Kersey Lions in care of Moser Funeral Service, 3501 S. 11th Avenue, Evans, Colorado 80620.