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Harry Lee Howell, Sr.
Soldotna resident Harry Lee Howell Sr. died Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2002. He was 74.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m.
Saturday at the Soldotna Senior Citizens Center.
Mr. Howell was born in Hood River, Ore., on
Aug. 9, 1928, to Harry A. and Lacey Howell. He was a resident of Hood River
until he moved to the Kenai Peninsula in 1975. He was a graduate of Hood River
High School and Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa. He married Sue Jane Dempsey
on Oct. 4, 1950.
During his life, Mr. Howell's jobs included
mechanic, plumber, electrician, carpenter, body and fender man, heavy equipment
operator, welder and logger. While living in Oregon, he helped build the John
Day Dam and the first ski lifts at Mount Hood Meadows. He also worked on the
trans-Alaska oil pipeline.
He had many interests over the years, including
time spent as a minister and pastor, philosopher, theologian, athlete, hunter,
fisher, photographer, painter, singer, musician, mushroom gatherer and collector
of old bottles, antiques and various items. His latest hobby was building
birdhouses.
He was a favorite customer at secondhand
stores, coffee shops and garage sales. During recent years he had begun to focus
his gathering activities on Coca-Cola items and became known as the "Coca-Cola
Man."
"He was a devoted and loving husband, father,
grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He was the kind of grown-up who got down
and rolled around on the floor with the kids in his life. He loved all animals
and had no fear of even the most vicious junkyard dog," his family said.
"He never knew a stranger and could make a
friend anywhere, anytime and under any circumstance. He will be remembered for
his infectious laugh described by most as a cackle, his mischievous grin and his
music. His children will always remember Sunday afternoon drives when they would
head for the hills, and he drove dirt roads that angels feared to tread. He
loved life and enjoyed it to the fullest.
"He was an independent man who would build it
or do it himself rather than hire someone. There wasn't much he couldn't do. He
played music by ear. He would sometimes struggle with sheet music at the piano,
then toss it aside in disgust and the music would flow effortlessly. The day
before he left us, he sang 'Blue Christmas' as a solo during a luncheon at the
Soldotna senior center. Heaven will never be the same."
He was preceded in death by his parents and his
sisters, Eileen Chapman and Harriet Babcock.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sue
Jane Howell of Soldotna; sons and daughters-in-law, Harry and Janice Howell of
Oakville, Wash., and Kenneth and Michelle Howell of Soldotna; daughters and
sons-in-law, Debora and Ron Friedrich of Oregon City, Ore., and Yvonne and Tom
Bryant of Hood River; sisters, Blanche Wirrick of Sherwood, Ore., and Eila
Carmichael of Eugene, Ore.; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and nine
nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial
Chapel.
Source: Peninsula Clarion, January 8, 2003
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