Earl Michael Houck

September 24, 1943 – July 16, 2025

Earl Houck, 81, of Clifton, Colorado, passed away on July 16, 2025, at HopeWest in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Earl was born in Pittsburg, Kansas, to Charles and Bessie Hoskins Houck. The family moved to the Cameo mining community in 1945. As a child he attended the small two room school in Cameo. He spent his childhood in Cameo, Colorado, and graduated from Palisade High School in 1961. He later attended Mesa College in Grand Junction, Colorado from 1972 to 1975 majoring in Police Science and Human Services.

He joined the US Air Force in 1962 and was stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. He was Airman First Class.  He was honorably discharged in 1968.  Returned to Palisade Colo in 1969.

He married Lillie Hardwick in 1962.  They had two children Michael and Kathy.

On August 14, 1976, Earl married Treva Houck at Grand Mesa Baron Lake Chapel. The couple built their life together in Mesa County, where Earl lived most of his life.

Earl loved to tell stories to everyone about his adventurous life.  He was a great story teller! Earl was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, and shooting. He especially cherished visiting Cameo and returning to his childhood home. He will be remembered for his deep connection to the community and his unwavering dedication to family and service.

Earl's career in Law Enforcement was his calling. He began working for the California Highway Patrol after leaving the military. Upon return to Mesa County, he served as the Chief of Police in Palisade before joining the Mesa County Sheriff's Department. After moving to Lincoln, Nebraska he was employed for a shot time as a Correctional Officer at the Nebraska Correctional Complex before taking positions as an Adult Probation Officer and conducting Pre- Sentence Investigations for the District Court. Following his return to Mesa County in 1997 he returned to the Mesa County Sheriff's Office as a Deputy and was a Patrol Lieutenant when he left. He was also an instructor at the Western Slope Law Enforcement Training Academy and provided firearms and in-service training at the Sheriff's Office. After leaving the Sheriff's Office he worked in Private Security.

He is survived by his loving wife, Treva Houck of Clifton, Colorado; sons Michael Houck and Jarrod Houck, both of Grand Junction, Colorado; and daughter Kathy Bauer of Philomath, Oregon. He also leaves behind grandchildren Michelle Lyons (Oregon), Joseph Bauer (Oregon), Tanner Houck, and Saige Houck (Grand Junction), as well as great-grandchildren Niko and Henry Bauer, and Phillip and Finnegan Lyons, all of Oregon.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Bessie Houck; siblings Betsy Dean, Charles “Chuck” Houck, William Houck, and Roseann Hardee.

A Catholic Mass will be held in his honor at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Palisade, CO on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 11:00AM. Memorial contributions may be made to HopeWest in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Earl Houck’s legacy of service, strength, and love will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.