Gerald R. Howley

Well folks, if you are reading this, there is a better than a 100% chance that I will not be stopping for a cold one tonight.  And like any good Irishman, I can only hope that I will be in heaven five minutes before “the good lord” knows I am there.  I was born in 1945 to the late Robert and Geneva (Kraft) Howley.  I grew up in Goodyear Heights and graduated from East High School (Class 63 Orientals).  At East I met a lifetime of friends and was coached by two great football coaches, Dom Patella and Dave Marshall.  Under their coaching skills I was awarded the 1962 Akron Beacon Journal’s All-City 1st Team and the All-District Team.

Thru the years I worked with my fellow classmate and dear friend, Mary (Lehman) Gifford and her husband, Tom on class reunions.  Every 5 years we coordinated the reunion.  It was a real pain in the arss!  After 35 years it became clear that because of name changes, deaths or being in jail, it impossible to find classmates.  So, we passed the baton.  My working career mostly centered around the printing and publishing fields.  My favorite job was as a wooden pattern maker. However, I have been my greatest at being retired.  Retirement gave me time to build my woodworking shop, fish on Lake Erie with my buddy Skip, get into the custom-car hobby, own my hideaway in Catawba, Ohio on Lake Erie and drink cold beer.

I was proceeded in death by my wonderful parents Robert and Geneva Howley, grandparents Howard and Dora (Eddey) Howley and Harry and Elsie (Weimer) Kraft, my precious granddaughter (that I have missed every minute of every day) Jori Howley, my special cousin Betty in West Virginia, my brothers by other mothers, Dick Campbell and Fred (Skip) Armstrong (I hope you boys got the beer cold!)  I am survived by the two biggest blessings in my life, my sons, Larry (Amanda) Howley and Gary (Shellee) Howley, my brother, Michael (Diane) Howley, my granddaughters, Meghan (Mark) Rice, Tia (Donnie) Rambler, grandsons, Ryan, Dylan and Brennan Howley and five great-grandchildren.

Thanks to my family and good friends I have had a great life.  Funeral services will be private for the family.  A celebration of life service will be held at a later date.

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