Howe Mortuary & Crematory

Service steeped in community

Most of the people who work at Howe Mortuary & Crematory are lifelong residents of Longmont with deep roots and strong ties to the community. We share values with and carry a true passion for planning funerals, cremations and celebrations of life. Though our business has evolved through the decades, we still operate with the original intent of the Howe family: to plan each funeral with dignity, respect and attention to detail.

We believe that it’s important to take the time to acknowledge the life of a loved one. We design services that celebrate the individuality of a person and the uniqueness of his or her path because we know that honoring your loved one’s life is an act of love. Whether you wish to plan a traditional funeral with a viewing followed by a funeral service and a graveside ceremony; a cremation with a simple champagne toast; or a modern celebration of life complete with music, favorite foods and a one-of-a-kind send-off that reflects the personality and passions of your loved one, we’re here to guide you.

A state-of-the-art Longmont funeral home

Our Coffman Street funeral home reopened in 2014 in a brand-new building, after a fire the previous year. It’s a state-of-the-art facility unlike any other in the Longmont area.

The bright, contemporary funeral chapel seats more than 170 guests. Chairs can be arranged in rows for a traditional service or in seating groups for a more contemporary service. We can bring tables into the chapel and transform it into a banquet room. A modern audiovisual system allows us to play music and project video onto a large screen. If you don’t already have music, we can not only help you choose it, but also download it for you. And we are happy to create a multimedia tribute for your loved one’s service.

The funeral home’s special event room can be used as overflow for a very large service, though it’s used mostly for catered gatherings before or after a service. We can help you plan an informal open house with photos, memorabilia, snacks and fellowship, or something more formal like a sit-down dinner with time for farewell toasts.

When the funeral home was rebuilt, we also added a state-of-the-art care center so that we could provide your loved one with the highest standard of care.

Our private on-site crematory

Cremation is an increasingly common choice, but not everyone knows that cremation can also include a beautiful ceremony or even a viewing with visitation. From a cremation without a funeral service to a cremation with a memorial that follows, we are prepared to answer all your questions and help you understand the variety of arrangements that are possible and then partner with you to create a unique service for your loved one.

The private on-site crematory at Howe Mortuary & Crematory means that your loved one never leaves our care. It also means that a family can say a final goodbye immediately before a cremation, witness the cremation—and even participate in the creation, if you wish to do so.

Genuine people who truly care

The team a Howe Mortuary & Cremation Services emphasizes kindness and hospitality. We find it infinitely rewarding to guide families through the process of honoring their loved ones, and we are always here for you, whether you are planning a funeral ahead of time or need immediate assistance. Call us anytime, day or night.

History

The Howe family has been associated with funeral service since 1898. They established the family firm in 1909.

Albert Edward (A.E.) Howe was a native of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Seeking a drier climate and relief from tuberculosis, he immigrated to Denver in 1889. At the age of 21, he settled on a ranch in North St. Vrain Canyon, near Lyons.

In 1887, A.E. married Lura McFadden at the Stone Church in Lyons. Lura’s father was a civil engineer who helped build the railroad. He brought his family to Colorado in a covered wagon, and they lived in Denver while he completed work on the railroad. The family then moved to Lyons.

A.E. began participating in community affairs as a member of the Lyons Town Council, a member of the school board and as deputy county assessor. In 1904, he was elected county assessor; he won re-election two years later.

A.E. Howe enters the funeral business

A.E.’s parents died when he was a boy, and he showed interest in the funeral business as a young man. At one point he had assisted F.J. Bucheit, a Boulder undertaker. After completing his second term as county assessor in early 1909, A.E. moved his family to Boulder and joined Benjamin A. Holley in the funeral business. The partners purchased F.J.’s business and operated a mortuary under the name Holley and Howe on the main floor of the Odd Fellows Lodge Building at 16th and Pearl.

A.E. Howe was elected Boulder County coroner in 1914 and served until 1934.

In 1919, A.E. purchased Dr. O.G. Place’s Sanitarium at 2121 Broadway (then 12th Street), across the alley from First Congregational Church (which still stands). The building was constructed by W.P. Sale and was a hotel for years prior to being converted to a sanitarium by Dr. Place. A.E. turned the building into a mortuary, with upstairs living quarters for the family, which by then included eight children.

In 1922, the Howes constructed a building specifically for a mortuary at the corner of 11th and Spruce.

A second generation joins the company firm

In 1925, A.E.’s son George joined the firm, followed a year later by son Norman. Sons Carl and Ted would later begin working at the firm as well.

In 1935, George succeeded his father as county coroner. He held the office until 1954. Norman was coroner from 1954 to 1970, replaced by his nephew Bill, who would preside as coroner from 1970 to 1986. In total, the Howes were in the coroner’s office for 74 continuous years.

A.E. Howe died in 1944 at the age of 75.

In 1945, George moved to Longmont and purchased Shaw Mortuary. He retained his interest in the Boulder funeral home, but Norman became manager. After returning from serving overseas during World War II, Ted left the mortuary business to become a partner with Sturtz-Copeland Florist. Carl remained with the funeral home until his death in 1960.

Four generations strong

In 1958, George’s sons, George W. Jr. and William B., and Norman’s son, Darrell, completed mortuary school and joined the family firm. George Jr. took over responsibilities for Longmont and purchased the operation later that year. William started working in Boulder, where he became a partner. At the same time, Norman and Darrell bought the Henning Mortuary in Lafayette-Louisville, which Darrell operated.

In 1977, Geoffrey W. Howe joined his father, George Jr., as the fourth generation at the funeral home. After completing his mortuary school requirements and securing his Colorado mortuary science license, he purchased the business from his parents in 1986. To this day, Geoffrey and his staff continue to provide the highest level of personal and professional service in the area.

Since 2017, Howe Mortuary & Crematory has been part of the Dignity Memorial® network of funeral homes, crematories and cemeteries.