He was born on July 15, 1948 in Bellefontaine, Ohio at Mary Rutan Hospital to Wendell and Mary Thaxton. Howard came to Arizona in 1973-74, to bask in the wonderful warm weather. He was a hard worker, and always remained positive. After 35 years, he retired from Banner Good Samaritan Hospital.
He married in 1996, to Susan Kelly (Easley)which only lasted 27 short years. Howard made friends effortlessly- co-workers, neighbors, landscapers, doctors, store employees. It was amazing how much he would know about the people he just met. When he would go to his doctor's appointments, he would come out and know more about the doctor than his own problems.
That was Howard in a nutshell, he was always thinking about other people and truly wanted to know about them.
Howard is preceded in death by his parents Wendell & Mary Thaxton, brothers Darrell and Cletus. Brothers- in-law Blake, Bill and Roy. Sisters, Dorothy, Lucille and Lois. Sisters-in-law Lesli and Rachel.
He is survived by his wife Susan, sister Lillian, sisters- in- law Marina, Georgia (Lonnie), Donna, Nancy (Mike), Sara (Dave) Leann (Aaron), Brothers-in-law, Glenn (Michelle), Sam (Jenny), Ray (Julie), Ern Tracy and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service for Howard will be held Friday, January 12, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary, 719 North 27th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009, followed by a committal service from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
