Louis Howard Sr.

Louis "Lou" Byron Howard Sr., 76, passed away at his home on Jan. 19, 2015, in Glenn's Ferry. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Glenns Ferry. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, in Mountain Home.

He was born Aug. 17, 1938, in Burley, Idaho, the oldest of the three boys born to Leonard "Doc' and Thelma Howard. They had many adventures in Carey, Idaho, before the family settled in Boise in 1955.

Lou attended Boise High School and graduated in 1957. He later attended Brigham Young University.

Lou supported his family working first for Albertsons in Boise; Sandy, Utah; and Reno, Nev., in various capacities. He later became a pastry chef and business owner of commercial bakeries. Finally, he shifted his focus to general contracting and excavation.

He made his home in Reno for more than 40 years, where he had many supportive friends who shared good memories and helped him through difficult times. He especially enjoyed participating in classic car activities and the Reno Air Races, two of his lifelong interests.

In 2007, he returned to Idaho, where he vowed to retire someday. Glenns Ferry was his choice of a sleepy location where he could be "off the grid" and enjoy the quiet and slower pace of small town life, away from a big city.

He was preceded in death by his father, "Doc" (1989); his wife and the love of his life, Emma Price-Howard (2001); and his mother, Thelma (2014). He is survived by his wife, Julia; his daughter Wendy (Idaho); his sons Leonard (Washington), Louis (Idaho) and Larry (Utah); his brothers Lee (Utah) and Jim (Idaho); 11 step-children, 35 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Lou enjoyed making others laugh and was always willing to lend a hand. In her final letter to her family, his mother referred to Lou as her "kind hearted lion." His family and friends will miss him and remember his sense of humor and good nature that were so much a part of him.