Jonathan Lee Howard

Jonathan is survived by his beloved wife Emma Jeanne Howard; his children Gabriel A. Howard (Porche), Sabrina J. Jimenez (Carlos), Valerie Howard, Benjamin E. Howard, Olivia Howard and Lily M. Blackwell; and grandchildren Ezra T.O. Howard-McCoy, Aurora K.R. Howard-McCoy and Isaac D.E. Howard-McCoy. He is also survived by his parents Linda Anderson and Calvin Howard, siblings Lisa Reyes, Tamara Gray (Chris), Amy Howard, Charles Brian Howard, Ashley Howard and Cherie H. Walker (Martin). Jonathan is preceded in death by maternal grandparents Percy and Gloria LeGros, paternal grandparents Charles Bruce and Francis Anita Howard and step-father Bert “Buster” Anderson.

Jonathan was born in this world with an incredible knack for storytelling and making everyone he knew laugh and feel loved. Even at a very young age, his mind and soul were living for knowledge and adventure. As a child, he lived in Saudi Arabia and traveled with his family across Europe for several years. Coming back to the United States, Jonathan and his siblings settled in the Covington/Mandeville area of LA. Attending and graduating from Mandeville High School, in 1992, he was known for his impeccable drive for learning and linguistic skills. He achieved many awards in spelling and math excellence which to this day, have helped him achieve all the accomplishments in his life and career. He was an Eagle Scout and after high school joined the US Navy at the young age of 17. He loved his country and always wanted to be a part of something bigger. He served for nearly seven years and was awarded with many ribbons, including a marksmanship medal. He was an electronics tech and focused his career on reactor operations. After his years of traveling with the Navy he found himself settled in Illinois for the next 20 years to raise and care for his family. At that time he joined the nuclear field as a lifelong career.

His passions never stopped, his love for life allowed him to gain many friends and loved ones over the years. Jonathan was energetic to say the least and his love for adventure kept him going. He traveled to many countries and lived in England for nearly a year in his adult life. He joined many groups and loved to be a part of it all. Jonathan was a music enthusiast with a love for karaoke. He loved the ocean, kayaking, hiking and any outdoor activities. As a lover of sports, he spent many years refereeing and playing soccer, watching every football game and cheering for the teams he loved. Jonathan never sat still, he never stopped making people smile and laugh and he never will. His memory will be with us in every way, whomever was blessed with the opportunity to meet Jonathan, and his unique and incredible soul, you just know. He was a squirrel with a tenacious way of being a Cajun gentleman, a pool shark, dart master, card hustler and karaoke king.

Life unfortunately changed for Jonathan at the end of 2019, being diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. It was time for him to leave Illinois and come home to his adored state of Louisiana. He needed the love and support of his family, which became the most important part of his life. Not only was he home, he was cherished and loved by all. He fought his cancer with grace and dignity. He never let it define who he was, Jonathan was courageous and brave.

“How I wish, how I wish you were here

We're just two lost souls

Swimming in a fish bowl

Year after year

Running over the same old ground

What have we found?

The same old fears

Wish you were here”

Family and friends are invited to honor Jonathan’s memory during the Celebration of Life Service at Grace Funeral Home, 450 Holy Trinity Drive, Covington, LA 70433 on Saturday, November 25th, 2023 at 2:00 PM with visitation on Saturday beginning at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Jonathan may be made to Ronald McDonald House at https://rmhc.org/ or to MD Anderson Cancer Center online at http://mdacc.convio.net/site/TR?px=1533382&pg=personal&fr_id=1631, or by mail to: Remember a Loved One, P.O. Box 4470, Houston, TX 77210-4470.

Please include Jonathan Lee Howard and fec23r when mailing in check donations.

An online guestbook is available at www.gracenorthshore.com.