James G. "Jim" Howell

Jim changed his address to heaven on May 18, 2025 after a brave seven-month battle with a traumatic brain injury and a twelve-year war with prostate cancer.

He was born in Lansing, Michigan to Donald and Marjorie Howell.  Later, his sister Karen and brother Bill joined the family.  He grew up in Oak Park and Pleasant Ridge outside of Detroit where he lived a carefree childhood with his buddies; riding bikes, playing games, climbing trees, and hanging out on summer days at Tiger Stadium home of the Detroit Tigers, or the Detroit Zoo both of which were a short bus ride away.  Every year he had high hopes for the Detroit Lions.

He graduated from engineering school at the University of Michigan where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and kept lifelong friendships with many of the brothers.  Jim was blessed with a unique sense of humor, a dry wit, and frequently threw out ironic, or paradoxical comments that lightened any mood.

Jim met his future wife while a senior at U of M.  He and Carolyn Fulton were married in May of 1968 and moved to Boston.  Jim worked as an engineer with North American Rockwell.  When he realized many American companies were moving overseas, he decided he’d better make a career move and went to work as a salesman for Allendale Insurance, which led him to work for the company that became his passion, Arthur J. Gallagher to which he devoted 35 years.

The family grew when Craig arrived soon followed by Dave.  Jim played with his sons. He coached the usual sports kids enjoy and delighted in indulging them in the latest video games like PAC Man and Mario Brothers and movies like Star Wars.  He played along with them until they graduated from high school and moved out to their chosen universities.

After he retired, he took up two more hobbies both he and Carolyn enjoyed.  He became a pilot and bought a small Cessna.  They took flight, traveling mainly in the mid-west to see family and friends.  Once, they were given a big bag of potato chips and threw it in the back of the plane.  During flight it exploded from the air pressure scaring everyone. It soon became obvious from the smell exactly what happened and oh, what relief!

He bought a motorcycle, and they became “Geezy Riders” traveling with friends to countless places mainly in Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Massachusetts.

When Jim was 65, he gave his life to Christ.  He was baptized at Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.  Later, he surprised many with his kind heart by paying for the dinners of other diners, leaving great tips for waiters and waitresses and rewarding people for jobs well done whatever their fields of endeavor.  He did the same for extended family providing vacations in Hawaii and Palm Springs.

Jim and Carolyn moved to Panorama Continuing Care Retirement Community in Lacey Washington in 2019 to be close to children and grandchildren on the West Coast.  He jumped in and volunteered for a variety of services, participated in many activities, and made fast friends.  Westwood Baptist Church provided more volunteer activities and Christian discipleship through Bible studies and Christian love.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Donald and Marjorie, and his sister, Karen.  He leaves behind his wife, Carolyn, brother, Bill and his wife, Virginia, his sons Craig and Dave, his daughter-in-law Autumn, and three beloved grandchildren Monty, MJ, Celeste and many nieces and nephews.  There will be a memorial service at Panorama chapel in Lacey at a later date.  The family suggests contributions to Panorama Continuing Care Retirement Community 1751 Circle Lane S.E. Lacey Washington, 98503, or Westwood Baptist Church 333 Kaiser Road NW, Olympia Washington 98502 in lieu of flowers.