Jeffrey Joseph Howard

Jeffrey Joseph Howard, 81, of Magnolia, Texas, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, February 25, 2024.

Jeff was born in St. Paul, MN, on September 1, 1942, to the late Donald B. Howard, Jr, and Ann Moody Howard. He graduated from Mounds View High School in 1960 and attended some college at the University of Minnesota. On August 11, 1962, he married Vivian Dorothy Smith in New Brighton, MN.

They quickly started a family, having three sons in three years. He started out as a bricklayer but back surgery and a full-body cast for seven weeks and a brace for three months meant a change in careers. He attended Control Data Institute and became a Field Engineer for Recognition Equipment Incorporated, working on the first systems for high-speed processing of documents, which took the family to Dallas, TX; Salt Lake City, UT; Los Angeles, CA; Sacramento, CA; and San Francisco, CA.

While in Utah, he bought a boat, and the family enjoyed water skiing on the weekends at locations such as the reservoirs of the Wasatch Mountains and later Lake Folsom, CA. Considering his build, most were surprised to see how effortlessly he could slalom on one ski. He delighted in skiing while never getting his cigar wet, and showing off with his signature skiing move of putting his hands and ski rope behind his neck.

After six years, he returned with his family to New Brighton, MN, where he was self-employed with several businesses, from roofing to plants. He enjoyed spending time with his extended family…hosting Ping Pong parties in his basement, helping on weekends at “The Lake,” croquet in the backyard, and floating down the Apple River (which still holds his wedding ring). In 1979 he moved to Orange Park, FL, returning to REI as a Field Engineer in the Jacksonville, FL, Federal Reserve, maintaining machines that counted the money, checked for counterfeits, and shredded unfit bills.

An accident on the job meant an early retirement, which he began by embarking on a many-month-long motorhome trip across the United States with his wife Vivian. They eventually ended up on Captiva Island, FL, where he spent 10 years working on homes and maintaining yards. Known on the island as Jungle Jeff, he knew everyone, and everyone knew him. Like his Grandfather Donald Brackin Howard, Sr, he had the “Howard Gift of Gab,” and he never missed an opportunity to talk to someone new. He loved to take an evening swim in the ocean and would float on his back with his arms behind his head, enjoying the rocking of the waves.

Jeff had a love of plants and gardening, grew vegetable gardens, and maintained greenhouses in Minnesota, California, Florida, and Texas. He also loved garage sales and collecting things he felt could still be used for something, even if that might be many years away.

Retired for the past 23 years at his home in Texas, he loved to work in his yard with a stogie in his mouth, tend his plants, and watch TV with his “bride,” including his favorite shows, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Always outside, he continued to be known around his neighborhood as Jungle Jeff.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Vivian Howard of Magnolia, TX, and three sons, Christopher Howard (Jill) of Houston, TX, Timothy Howard (Lana) of Fort Myers, FL, and Bryan Howard (Stacy) of Tyler, TX; eleven grandchildren, Ryan Howard of Denver, CO, Lacey Chancellor (Michael) of Tomball, TX, Tyler Howard (Trang) of New Caney, TX, Corey Howard of Houston, TX, Kyle Howard of Denver, CO, Krystal Janiszewski (William) of Louisville, KY, Lorynn Howard of Santa Fe, NM, Summer Howard of Columbus, TX, Valentina Howard of Fort Myers, FL, Zachary Howard of Webster, WI, and Samuel Howard of Spring, TX; eleven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews who have fond memories of “Uncle Buzzy Bee.” Including his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Frederic Howard, and his sister, Deborah North.

The family held a Celebration of Life for family on May 4, 2024, where his ashes were spread in the Gulf of Mexico as he wished, forever with the ocean waves he loved. Jeff was rarely seen in more than a swimsuit and his flip-flops, so the dress code will be beach wear.

Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.