Howard "Howie" Ray Rigney

Howard “Howie” Ray Rigney died on October 7, 2014 in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the age of 65. Howie is survived by his wife, Holly; his children, Kevin, Chris, and Kelly; his grandchildren Becca, Orion, Jake, Alexis, Bryleigh, Zachary, Tyler, Will, and Lena; and his brothers, Hal and Jerry. He is preceded in death by his parents Harley and Mary (Dobbs) Rigney.

Howie was born on December 14, 1948 in Barrier, Kentucky. In 1952, he moved with his family to Colorado Springs. He graduated from Palmer High School in 1966. He went on to serve in the Air Force as a jet mechanic for 4 years and was mostly stationed at Hahn Air Force Base in Germany. He married Holly Wright on June 5, 1976. Howie worked for the City of Colorado Springs for 30 years, first at the Martin Drake power plant, then at the Ray Nixon power plant as part of its original start up crew.

Howie had a life-long enjoyment of bowling, a hobby that he shared with his wife and children. He enjoyed helping Kevin and Chris through Boy Scouts and the many activities and camping trips that Scouting entailed. As a former Cubmaster of Pack 147 and Scoutmaster of Troop 247, Howie was a strong role model for many young men. He loved watching Kelly participate in her sporting events, which included gymnastics, diving, and competitive trampoline. Howie and his family shared a passion for watching and participating in the sport of auto racing. As his children grew, so did their love of racing, and Howie helped them with many automotive projects, from go-carts to stock cars, and could often be found cheering them on at the track. He had a talent for woodworking and enjoyed making things for his grandkids. Howie was a loving, accepting, and supportive father who remained very involved in the lives of his children as they grew into adulthood and had children of their own. He delighted in playing with his grandkids, who all loved to visit their “Papa.”

Visitation will take place Monday, October 13, 2014 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., at Swan-Law Funeral Director’s, 501 N. Cascade Ave. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at Swan Law Funeral Director’s; with a reception to follow at Valley Hi, 610 S. Chelton Road. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Howie’s life.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to make a donation to the charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the staff at Cheyenne Mountain Care center for their care and compassion.