John M. Howard (Mike), longtime Steamboat resident, died March 16th, 2016, at his home in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was 64 years old. Mike attended Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma prior to moving to Steamboat Springs in 1972 for a seasonal job building townhomes and condominiums in the Stagecoach area. Like so many other young people; he never returned to his home state of Oklahoma. However, he continued to be a diehard fan of the Oklahoma Sooners. His love for the mountains and the endless outdoor activities he participated in kept him in the valley for 42 years. Every winter he bought an annual ski pass, logging and bragging about his 70+ plus days of skiing on Mt. Werner. After the mountain closed you could find Mike golfing, hiking, biking, fishing, camping and gardening, or anything else that would require him to be outdoors. He developed a multitude of lifelong friends who shared his love for adventure in the great outdoors. An avid reader, Mike could easily read a novel a week on a wide variety of subjects; he also was a born story teller. He loved to debate and often would challenge others to debate him. His unique and dry sense of humor endeared him to those who knew him well. He enjoyed the humor of the Three Stooges and the movie "The Great Lebowski". Mike had a strong work ethic working for 30+ years as a top welder for Excel Power Plant in Hayden. He had also worked for TIC, Energy Fuels and for a brief time hung a real estate shingle outside his door. He is survived by his son Shaun Howard of Steamboat Springs; sisters Terisa Childers of Steamboat Springs and Suzanne Reed of Boulder; a brother Scott Howard of Oklahoma City and three nephews, Jason Childers, Tyler Childers and Austin Reed. A “Celebration of Life” will be held on Saturday, May 7th from 4 to 7 pm at the Olympian Hall in Steamboat Springs.
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