Burt Gerald Howard

Burt Gerald Howard was an expressive and optimistic individual who enjoyed life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Burt, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions.

Burt was born on June 8, 1954 in Detroit, Michigan. His parents were Burt and Helen Howard. Burt was raised in Southern California as a Christian. Even as a child, Burt had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

All of Burt's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was easygoing and fun loving. Burt managed to lighten the mood wherever he was. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations. Burt was raised with three siblings. He had three brothers, Robert, Bill (William), and Bruce and he graduated high school in 1972.

Burt never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Burt to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Burt was always right at home. Burt utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. Burt loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate contributed to his relationship with Cheryl. Burt and Cheryl Fitzgerald exchanged vows on March 7, 2012 but they have been inseparable since 2005. They were married at the Veterans Hospital in Lake Havasu, Arizona. Burt was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Burt was a wonderful father because his compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. Burt was blessed with four children, three sons, Gabriel, Jacob, and Simon, and his adopted daughter, Tina. He was also blessed with three grandchildren, David, Blake, and Hannah. Burt had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play.

Burt was a Navy veteran and he was stationed in San Diego, California. Burt saw action for the Vietnam War. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of E3.

At work, Burt had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his energy was often contagious. He was a hard worker an excellent leader. His primary occupation was as a Sheet Metal Journeyman.

Burt enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were building cars and riding his Harley Davidson. Burt was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others. He was also an active member of H. O. G (Harley Owner and Group).

It is no surprise that Burt loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Sturgis, South Dakota, and Lake Havasu, Arizona.

Burt was a lover of dogs and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. Burt's favorites was pet was Keisha, who he had for 11 years. . He also had Niki, a Siberian husky for ten years, Harley, a Chihuahua for five years, Rocky, a Chihuahua mix for three years, and Cooper, a Terroir mix for one year. They were best friends and Burt enjoyed the time spent with his dogs that were all a part of his family.

Burt believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 2007, Burt took it in stride as one more way to have fun. His new life involved relocating to Lake Havasu, Arizona. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Burt remained busy with family and friends from his motorcycle club. Even in retirement, Burt continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Burt passed away on February 14, 2018 at home in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Burt fought long and hard against complications from Aspostios and COPD. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl, his children, Gabriel, Jacob, Simon, and Tina. Burst memory will also be cherished by his three grandchildren, extended family, and friends. Services will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 2:00pm at Palm Northwest Mortuary in Las Vegas, Nevada. Burt will be laid to rest at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada.

Burt brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Burt Gerald Howard lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.