George "Red" R. Howard

HOWARD, GEORGE R. "RED"

Passed away at John Ganton's Countryside Care Center with his family by his side, Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at the age of 85. The oldest of 14 children, he was born June 3, 1925 in Whitesville, KY to Arthur and Ethel Mae Howard. He moved to Jackson in 1941. He owned Red Howard Motor Sales and
was involved with country music for several years having his own band "Red Howard and
the Rainbow Valley Boys", as well as working as a DJ for WIBM and WJCO. He also booked and introduced several country music stars at the County Building, Fair Grounds,COBO Hall and Frontier City. He was proud to be a US Marine and served his country in
the South Pacific during World War II, being with some of the first to occupy Nagasaki,
Japan after the atomic bomb was dropped. He had many talents and could fix or build just
about anything he wanted to. He was a great husband, father and grandfather and will be
missed by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, James; his
sister, Lisa; and daughter-in-law, Susan.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marjorie;
children, George Howard Jr.; Sharon (Roy) Scott, William Howard and Gloria (Ted) Stout;
nine grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; eight sisters, Monica Bernice Hackworth of Jackson, Anna Mae Burns, Emily Mary Hawkins, Paulette Howard,
Edna Connor, Catherine Ralph and Dora Evans all of Kentucky and Wanda Allen of Tennessee; three brothers, Joseph Aluysiuis Howard, Owen Howard and Ray Howard all
of Kentucky; stepmother, Agnes Howard of Kentucky; and several brothers-in-law,sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.

We want to thank special granddaughters,"Sarah Lynn" Stout and "Teresa Lynn" Konopka, special sister, Monica Bernice Hackworth, family friend, Carlene Konopka, everyone at John Ganton's Countryside Care Center, Dr. Marvin Fields' office and Allegiance Hospice for helping us take care of Dad.

According to his wishes, George has been cremated. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 120 E. Wesley St., Jackson, MI 49201. The Reverend Father Cecilio Reyna will be the
celebrant. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial
donations may be made to St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church or Jackson County Veteran Affairs Van Program, 1715 Lansing Ave., Jackson, MI 49202.

Desnoyer Funeral Home--Family owned for 121 years.