Marty R. Howe

On Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, Marty Russell Howe, 58, of Missoula, sought refuge in the arms of Our Lord, escaping the bonds of his relentless pain due to an extended illness for several years.

There is no doubt he was welcomed into heaven and into his beloved mother's arms, Eudora Hutchins Huppe', who preceded him in death and whom he missed dearly.

Marty was born April 30, 1957, in Amarillo, Texas, to parents, Russell Howe of Missoula and Eudora Hutchins Huppe' (deceased). He graduated in 1975 from Sentinel High School and, like most young men of that day, he sought employment at one of the local lumber mills. His first job was in the log department at Van Evans Lumber Company. However, due to his narcolepsy from a traumatic brain injury at age 5, Marty sought jobs that could accommodate his sleep schedule. Marty always enjoyed working and fought as long as he could to stay employed. He next worked at Super Save Market as a cashier. His last place of employment was as a settlement clerk at Watkins Shepard Trucking. Marty became fully disabled too early in life and he always missed the interactions of the people he worked with.

Marty left Missoula for a few years to explore a new life in Seattle. It was there he met and formed lifelong friendships he would cherish all the rest of his days. Marty loved people, he loved the rain forests, he loved dolphins and some might say, most of all, he loved his cats as though they were his children. Indeed, Marty sacrificed a great deal of his own health to ensure his cats were taken care of, well cared-for and loved immeasurably until they passed. Spooky, Marty's last cat in his life, passed away on Nov. 25, 2015, leaving him an empty-nester. Marty was a defender of the weak and oppressed and a fierce opponent of bigotry and hatred in any form.

Left to honor Marty and remember his love are his father, Russell Howe; his two brothers, Monty (Renee') Howe of Kalispel and Mike (Brenda) Howe; nieces, Nicole (Chance) Buckalew and family of Kalispell, Jennifer (Joe Manhart) Howe and family, Christine (Zach Noyse) Howe and family; aunts and uncles, Sharon (Vic) Sandau and family, Edna Howe, Margorie Howe (TX), Camilla Eddy, Eileen (Haywood) Brown and family, Carla Johnson; special cousins and countless friends near and far.

Funeral services will be handled by Garden City Funeral Home. Memorial service to be held March 5 at 10 a.m. Celebration of Marty's life and open potluck to follow in the community room of Garden City Funeral Home. Marty will lie in peace next to his mother at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Internment to take place at 11 a.m. Monday, March 7.

"My friends are my estate." — Emily Dickenson
Read Marty Howe's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.