Howard Everett Dunagan

Howard Everett Dunagan passed peacefully from this life with family by his side on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the age of 85.  He was born to Erda and Ina Dunagan on January 17, 1940, in Maysville, Oklahoma where he lived until 1946 when his family moved to California and settled in the San Joaquin Valley.  Howard was a proud Okie and Irishman with a devilish smile, big sense of humor, and heart of gold that would charm anyone he met. He knew no strangers.

Howard graduated from Laton High School in 1957 where he played football.  He then attended College of the Sequoias in Visalia and worked on many of the ranches in the valley before moving to Salinas in 1962 where he began his career in construction.  He would become an esteemed Estimator in the Salinas Valley working for several well known companies.  In 1983, at the age of 43, while working for Hampshire Construction, Howard suffered a massive stroke leaving him paralyzed on his left side.  True to his optimistic and irrepressible nature, Howard persevered through arduous months of rehabilitation re-learning how to live a full life, which he did with grace, humbleness and his great penchant for humor. He returned to his love of the construction industry for another two decades before reluctantly retiring. Howard’s enthusiasm for life never let him sit still very long and he soon went back to work in part time roles.  In these later years, he worked at Veterans Transition Center and was instrumental in the creation of the Chinatown Health Services Center in Salinas where he was recognized as a visionary for his heart for the homeless.  Up until the last few years when he was no longer able to drive, you could find him in his car around town thinking of ways to improve on the neighborhoods and downtown areas of Salinas.

Howard was married to Charlene Campbell in 1962. They had two children together; Sean and Kathleen, who were the apples of his eye. In later years Howard met the love of his life, Sally Kilmer Curry, and in 1990 they married and began their life together enjoying their various travels. Their favorite activities together, however, were simply watching the hang gliders at Marina State Beach and being with their blended family; especially their grandchildren.

Howard is predeceased by his parents Erda and Ina. He leaves behind his wife of 34 years, Sally; his children: Sean (Sepha) Dunagan,  Kathleen Dunagan, and Patty (Tom) Lamar; his step-children: Diana (Roy) Valenzuela, David (Emily) Curry, and Dana (Carmelo) Lavina; his grandchildren: Beth Narron, Jefferson and Jerrid Curry, Claudia and Ethan Lavina, Saya, Roanya, Virginia and Austin Dunagan; his sister Mary Ann (Larry) Pickens; his brothers, Reuben and David Dunagan; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Vista Harden Ranch Assisted Living and Central Coast VNA & Hospice for their great care, compassion, and love for Howard.

No services will be held per Howard’s wishes.  Howard was a member of St. Ansgar’s Lutheran Church in Salinas. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory can be made to St. Ansgar’s or to Central Coast VNA & Hospice.