Patrick Howard Obituary

Ignacio resident Patrick David Dean Howard died of renal-cell carcinoma Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, at Four Corners Health Care Center in Durango. He was 55.

Mr. Howard was born to Joseph and Margaret Howard on Oct. 23, 1957, in Inglewood, Calif. He grew up in Southern California, where he also attended El Camino College in Torrance, Calif.

He worked at various facilities as a computer programmer, not only in Los Angeles, but in Denver and Las Vegas.

In 1999, he met his future wife, Freda Kay Pinnecoose, online and, in 2004, moved to Colorado. On Jan. 6, 2007, the couple married in Las Vegas.

When Mr. Howard moved to Ignacio, he worked a short time for Walmart and then with Peaceful Spirit in Ignacio for three years as a residential attendant and later as a drug and alcohol counselor.

The Howards enjoyed attending sporting events, concerts and traveling.

Mr. Howard was an avid Los Angeles Dodgers and Anaheim Angels fan, attending numerous games at Dodgers Stadium. His family said his love for the Dodgers continued after he moved to Colorado. He also enjoyed fishing at Lake Isabella in California, was a fan of the Los Angeles Kings, and downloaded and listened to lots of music.

Mr. Howard was diagnosed with renal-cell carcinoma in late January 2007. In March 2012, he moved to Los Angeles, where he participated in a clinical trial treatment at the Samuel Oschin Cancer Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

"He fought the cancer as hard as he could and with the love of his wife, Freda, he never gave up," his family said, "but throughout it all, he always had a caring spirit about him and would keep everyone laughing with his jokes and humor. He was a wonderful uncle to all of his nieces and nephews, and they fondly called him 'Patrick Star.'"

Mr. Howard is survived by his wife of six years, Freda Kay Pinnecoose, of Ignacio; sister, Tracy Hemmingway of Lancaster, Calif.; and numerous extended family members in La Plata County and Southern California.

Cremation will occur. A rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 15449 Colorado Highway 172 in Ignacio. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., also on Saturday at St. Ignatius.