Patrick Ray Howard

Patrick Ray Howard passed peacefully, September 3rd, into the arms of Jesus after a hard-fought battle with cancer at age 71. Pat was born in Rathdrum, Idaho, to Bud and Betty Howard. When he was three, he moved with his family to Florence, Montana. Pat grew up the youngest of five children. He had a great childhood, fishing and hunting with his older brother and pestering his older sisters. He played football, basketball and ran in track. His first job was working on the Mikesell ranch. After graduating from Florence Carlton High School, he went to work his first summer logging with his stepdad. He later went to Missoula Vo-tech and earned a certificate in small engine repair and another in welding. He was the first one hired out of his class and went to work at the Honda Cycle Center in Missoula. He worked there for 5 years and made some life-long friends. Then, he opened his own shop until the recession sent him to California to work. When he came back to Missoula, he drove delivery truck for Norco for two or three years. Pat worked at Al’s cycle in Hamilton for several years. He worked at Hamilton Pack for a couple of years before starting his own metal fabrication shop. He became a very skilled welder specializing in stainless steel fabrication for the pharmaceutical industry. He was well known for being able to build or fix anything. He never had to advertise his business; he always had more work than he could do. He said he was retired but still went to his shop everyday even during his illness. His shop has been in operation for over 36 years.

Pat finally found the girl he wanted to marry when he was 37. Pat and Edel were married in 1990. They had many fun times in their 35 years of marriage—camping on the beach in Mexico at a beach they named Playa de Howard; and back country camping from the dune buggy Pat built. They felt very blessed to have jobs that allowed them to meet at home every day at noon to have lunch together. Pat would pet their little dog, Gracie, before heading back to work.

Pat loved racing. He started out racing “flat track” dirt bike after high school. In 1998 they had a “flat track” race in Hamilton where he became known as the Hamilton hero. It was a “clean sweep;” He won every race. He also raced on the ice with his “flat track” bike. Most recently, he said, “with age comes a cage” and started racing stock cars at Salmon Valley Speedway. He named Edel his crew chief and even had a shirt made for her. He didn’t always listen to her, though, and lost a race because he didn’t heed her advice and ran out of gas on the last lap as he was in first place.

Many people have said Pat was one of the friendliest people they ever knew. He reached out in friendship to people he didn’t know yet but who soon became his good friends. He was easy to laugh, and that was part of his charm. He was talented and gifted in his vocation-- always willing to understand and make suggestions on how to make something work better. He has friendships that have lasted a lifetime. It has been amazing to see the lives he has touched.

He had a few nicknames; Captain Howard, Scooby, and Prankster Pat. The prankster part he learned from his sister Karen.

Pat was preceded in death by his dad, Bud; stepdad, Lawrence; mom, Betty; brother, Gerry; sister, Florence, and his son Jacob Dillon. He is survived by his wife, Edel; sons Seth (Ann), Warren, and Travis (Timaree); sisters, Karen (Rick), Betty (Tom); and grandchildren, Delanie, Mackenzie, Brytten, and Trinity.

Pat will be deeply missed by all of us! We miss that twinkle in his pretty blue eyes full of mischief. We are thankful we know he is in Heaven, and one day we will all be together again.

A Celebration of Pat’s life will be held Saturday September 20th at 11:00 a.m. at Daly-Leach Chapel with a potluck reception to follow. Remember, it is a Celebration of life. It would be nice to see everyone sharing happy memories of Pat. Maybe even wear bright cheery clothes like he always did.