Lyman "Wayne" Howell

Lyman “Wayne” Howell, age 82, passed away peacefully on Saturday evening, November 25, 2011, in the home of his son, Jerry Howell and wife, in Evergreen. All three of his children, Jerry, Byron and Cindy were able to spend time with him that evening. Wayne was born January 17, 1929, in Yuma, Colorado. He was one of five children born to Jake Finley and Ruth (Jewell) Howell. His childhood and most of his schooling was in the Yuma school district. His family moved to Otis before his Senior year, and Wayne graduated from Otis High School in 1947, where he had made life long friends. Wayne was drafted and entered the Army in November of 1950 to proudly serve his country during the Korean War. While stationed in Japan, he was a tele-typist earning a Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, a United Nations Service Medal, a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and two overseas bars. He was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1952. He came home to Otis and began a lengthy career with various gas station companies in the area. His last employer was with Ison Oil Company. He delivered propane to area farmers, homes, and businesses from January, 1964, until his retirement in December of 2002. Wayne took great pride in providing service to his customers and told his family that he loved driving the countryside in his truck. Wayne, loving and devoted husband to Alice (Rutz), were united in marriage on February 15, 1954 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. To this union were born three children: Jerry, Byron, and Cindy. They made their home in Otis; raising their children in the house located behind the Otis First Presbyterian Church. Jerry, Byron, and Cindy, along with their families could always come back home to the same house for over 50 years. In fact, he said his greatest reward in life was getting married and having kids of his own. Wayne was proud of his family and loved his wife and children dearly. As a quiet, hardworking, sweet-spirited, introspective man, he made many sacrifices in his own life so that his family would have the best life possible through opportunities he never had. He was an encourager of his children to always do their best in whatever they did, and then proceeded to help them. Wayne’s playful fun-loving side included supporting and attending his children’s school and sports activities, traveling, road trips, hunting, fishing, gardening, classic cars and cruising, bowling, photography and coin collecting. Wayne was known to love a good joke. He enjoyed being a long-time member of the Otis Volunteer Fire Department and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Jake Finley and Ruth (Jewell) Howell and a step-granddaughter, Michelle Bingham Anderson. Wayne’s unassuming, quiet but strong sacrificial love will be sorely missed by his family. He is survived by his wife, Alice; two sons, Jerry and wife, Cynthia; Byron and wife, Donnia, and grandson Corey Wayne; daughter, Cindy Whitehead and husband Phill, grandson, Chas Davis, and granddaughter, Brittany Davis. Step-son Gary and step-grandchildren Michael Bingham and Darrin Bingham. Sisters, Aldean Bradney and husband Kenneth of Akron, Colorado; Charlean Warren and husband Rex of Aurora, Nebraska; Shirley Perrin and husband Ray of Yuma, Colorado; and one brother, Donald Howell of Bennett, CO; along with many cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of friends. Funeral services were held Saturday, December 3, at the First Presbyterian Church in Otis, Colorado, with Pastor Randy Feather officiating. Interment with color guard ceremonies provided by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars followed at the Otis Cemetery. The family requests memorial donations in lieu of flowers.

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