Obituary of Howard Wayne Girvin

Howard Wayne Girvin was born on October 2, 1946 in Ontario, Oregon to Russel Wayne and Margueritte Harris Girvin. He passed away unexpectedly on December 31, 2018.

Howard moved with his family from Vale, Oregon to Tulelake, California to a homestead at the age of 1

½ and lived there until he was 4, when the family moved to the farm West of Vale. He attended Grove Grade School until the 7^th grade when the school was closed and the students were moved to Vale. He graduated from Vale Union High School in 1964. He attended Treasure Valley Community College for 2 years and then attended Oregon State University for half a year.

While in high school, he was very active in the Future Farmers of America. He earned his State FFA degree and went to Europe on a People to People Good Will Tour. He always continued to support the FFA, including becoming a judge for the speech competitions and was honored as an honorary member.

Howard served on the Vale School Board for 16 years, on the Malheur County Fair Board for 8 years and was a great supporter of Vale Athletics and other school programs.

He farmed and raised dairy cows with his dad and continued to expand the acreage of the farm. During that time, he was a member of the Malheur County Potato Growers Association and the Oregon Potato Growers Association.

He married his high school sweetheart, Janet Johnson, on June 11, 1966 in Vale. (According to his mom he saw her when he was about 4 years old and told her that he was going to marry that girl). They were later sealed in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple on December 29,1967. Together they raised 5 children, Howard Jr., Valerie, Shannon, Dana, and Jalaine.

Howard is survived by his wife Janet of 52 years, his father Russel, son Howard Jr (Beaver) (Angela) of Fruitland, ID, daughters Valerie (Brett) Gardner of Fontana, CA, Shannon of Springville, UT, Dana of Springville, UT, and Jalaine (Greg) Lassek of Cottonwood Heights, UT and sisters, Jackie (Stanley), Nyssa, OR and Barbara, Payette, ID. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren, and numerous family and friends.

Howard was preceded in death by his mother, Margueritte, brother, David and daughter-­‐in-­‐law, Christy.

Services will be at the Vale LDS Church, Saturday January 5, 2019 at 11:00 am. Family will greet friends and family prior to the service at 10:00 am.

Memorials may be made to The Malheur County Fair, 795 NW 9^th St, Ontario, OR 97914.

Arrangements and Cremation by Lienkaemper Chapel, Vale.