David Howell, 61

| September 16, 2018 2:00 AM

David Howell died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Henderson, Nevada, due to heart failure.

Dave was born in Whitefish to Art and Rosann Howell on July 18, 1957. With a sharp, inquisitive mind he found his way into many fields of work and even more people’s hearts. The connecting thread throughout his life was the joy he took in finding treasures big and small — unearthed opals in the desert, timid high school students, or talented people who had been tripped up by drugs and alcohol.

Excelling as a speech and debate coach and teacher, Dave profoundly impacted hundreds of young people as he both taught the skills and instilled the confidence his students needed to succeed. He was equally proud of the students and teams he coached to championships and those that began his classes too shy to give a speech but ended up joining the team.

Dave retired in 1994 for professional and personal reasons. Professionally, he focused on several businesses that he owned and from which he developed many dear friendships. Personally, he battled substance abuse. These battles would lead him to mentor hundreds of individuals who struggled with similar issues and for whom he always had an easy laugh, a cup of coffee, and an open ear.

Through three marriages, kids, successes, failures, good health, and illness, Dave was both a diehard optimist and an ardent pessimist. Sunnily stubborn, he didn’t mind hard work. Sometimes his struggles got the better of him. But when he was at his best, he was magnificent.

Dave is survived by his parents; wife, Shirley; brothers, Matt and Bill; sisters, Mary and Janet; children, Richard, Katie, Camille and Daniel; grandchildren, Noelle and Josiah; and many extended friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Walter.

A memorial service for Dave will be held in at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 29 at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Eureka.

If you were one of the many people that David taught, coached, or mentored, please consider donating time or money to your local schools or the humane society.