Michael E. Howsley

Michael E. Howsley, 75 of Mission Viejo, CA passed away peacefully at his home on March 9, 2025. He was born on August 2, 1949 in Houston, TX to Horace and Lydia Howsley. He grew up with two brothers, two sisters, and a half-brother. As a youngster, he loved spending time with the neighborhood kids at the local baseball field trying to teach each other how to play the game. Mike always referred to those days as being a lot like the movie “Sandlot."

Mike attended Stephen F. Austin High School in Houston. After high school, he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to Vietnam in July of 1969 working in the helicopter division. He served four years and was honorably discharged in August of 1973. Mike was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Rifle Marksman Award, and Good Conduct Medal.

Prior to his deployment, Mike was stationed at Marine Corp Air Station in El Toro; he decided to remain in California after his return. He went on to attend Orange Coast College and then California State University, Long Beach, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree.

In 1992, he married Patti Jukuri in Lake Tahoe, and they went on to have two amazing boys, Tyler and Cody. Mike loved his family and was most comfortable at home with them.

Mike was a big lover of baseball and football. Sports were his world! His favorite teams were the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, and the Houston Astros. Mike coached Tyler and Cody’s Little League Teams and was always their number one fan. The days spent at the field are treasured memories for the whole family. So many lasting friendships began in those early days! Mike loved traveling to watch Tyler play baseball in high school and college at UCSD. Baseball was a huge part of his life during those years. He also loved watching Cody play soccer and lacrosse in his early years.

In Mike’s earlier adult years, he enjoyed collecting historical newspapers and learning about his family’s history through genealogy research. He enjoyed skiing, wave riding, spending time in Lake Tahoe, touring the national parks, but his favorite vacation spot was Hawaii. He loved being in the sun! During his later years, he enjoyed spending time watching sports, movies, and TV shows with Tyler and Cody. He always looked forward to the holidays, and Christmas was his favorite time of the year.

Mike had a diverse employment background. In his early years, he worked for Telex Computer Products as a field service technician. Later, he moved into the financial sector working for Merrill Lynch and Home Savings of America/Griffin Financial Services. For the last 20 years of his career, he was employed by Homeland Security with the Customs and Border Patrol Agency at the Long Beach Seaport. Regardless of his occupation, he was dedicated to providing for his family. Mike has filled many shoes — a brother, son, uncle, and as a Marine he protected our country; but above all, his most important role was being an amazing father and husband. He will be sorely missed!

Preceding him in death were his parents Horace and Lydia, sister Donna, brothers Horace and Jack Howsley, and James Mitchell. He is survived by his wife Patti; sons Tyler (daughter-in-law Taylor) of San Diego, and Cody of Mission Viejo; sister Juanita (John) Harrison of Baytown, TX; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins in Texas, Michigan, Minnesota, and Virginia.

We are deeply grateful for our family and friends’ continued support during these past difficult months. We’d like to thank Salus Hospice for their amazing care and concern.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Mike’s memory may make a donation to Salus Hospice or to ALS.org research to find a cure.

A funeral service for Michael will be held Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Fairhaven Memorial Services, 27856 Center Drive, Mission Viejo, CA 92692, followed by a reception from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.