Feb. 23, 1968 – Nov. 10, 2024 (age 56)
Obituary
Craig Robert Howard, 56, of Spokane, Wash., passed away on Nov. 10, 2024, when the heart that would have given anything to stay unexpectedly gave out.
He was born in Oakland, Calif., on Feb. 23, 1968, to Nathan E. and JoAnn F. Howard and enjoyed an idyllic childhood in Marysville, Wash.
His early love for sports sparked lifelong dreams of becoming a professional announcer along with a truly epic devotion to baseball. Grade-school portraits of Dr. J evolved into a caricature venture as a teen and eventually led to hundreds of published editorial cartoons.
Craig earned a journalism degree at the University of Oregon and wrote for publication nearly every day of his adult life. His most fulfilling work as a writer was with Liberty Lake Splash, Valley Current, NW Runner, and the LDS Sentinel, which he ran with his dad.
Craig was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and volunteered countless hours at Crosswalk youth shelter, Big Brothers Big Sisters, juvenile court diversion programs, Meals on Wheels, the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council, Blessings and Beyond, and several other organizations. In each role, he built the kind of personal connections that can change lives.
He formed years-long relationships with homebound seniors and unhoused veterans and never passed a person with a cardboard sign without stopping. Craig often showed up late because he paused to hear someone’s story, then doubled back with a handwritten list of pertinent resources, including his personal contact information.
As print journalism declined, he added full-time work raising awareness and funds for Spokane Neighborhood Action Program and later Family Promise.
He loved spicy food, the Mariners and Zags, and couldn’t get enough Beatles, Dylan, or Coltrane. But the most important, most profound love of his life was for his three children. He was an active, committed, and deeply silly dad who had decades of plans yet to fulfill.
Craig is survived by his mother, JoAnn; brother, Stephen; children, Eliot, Kate, and Willa; and dog, Cooper. He is reunited in death with his father, Nathan, and too many beloved dogs to name.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at 2 p.m. at the LDS Chapel, 14111 E. 16th Ave. Spokane Valley, WA, and streamed at https://bit.ly/CraigHowardService.
In lieu of flowers, please help the children keep him close in the many years ahead by sharing stories and photos to [email protected]. Donations can be made at https://gofund.me/69ccc8e0
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