Don Michael Howard, 83, of Sanger passed away at his home on Saturday, April 16, 2022 with his wife Marti and daughter Rachel by his side, with Merle Haggard playing in the background. Don was born in Floyd, Texas to Roy and Bernice (Terry) Howard in 1939. He grew up loving and playing sports, riding horses and working on his dads' farm.  His mom worked in the country music business so he grew up loving it.  He always had an infinity for westerns and always said he was born in the wrong century.

Don moved to Los Angeles in the 60's, and followed in his moms' footsteps, where he started working in the music business.  That's also where he met his wife Marti- at the famous Palomino Club.  He worked with everyone from George Jones to Merle Haggard to Dick Clark.  He was also on the board of the Academy of Country Music.  He had endless stories which he finally put down on paper when he wrote his book 'Bea and Me'.

Don and his family moved to Texas in 1978, leaving the music business behind, and started a new chapter in Sanger.  He followed in his dads' footsteps this time and started working in construction and real estate.  He had gained so much knowledge- from architecture (that he had learned at his alma mater UCLA) as well as engineering and construction itself.  He loved sharing his knowledge.  The last company he worked for (up until COVID) was Eikon Consultants.  He loved working and being needed and they gave him that blessing.

Don was a man of honor and loyalty.  If he was your friend, he would do anything for you.  And if you were lucky enough to be family, he would sacrifice everything to make sure you had what you needed.  He would move heaven and earth to make it happen.  He loved his kids, grandkids and great grandkids more than life itself and was so proud of all of them.  He was always bragging to everyone who would listen.  He was also known to 'adopt' others and make them family as well- including 'daughter' Brandi (the mother of his grandkids Alyssa and Jacob) and Brian Rushing and his family (his beloved neighbors).

At the end, Don was lucky enough to be able to spend time with family and close friends; sharing stories and love and watching his favorite westerns.  He said he had never felt so loved in his entire life.  And when he decided it was time to go, he did it on his terms and with peace in his heart.  We should all be so blessed.

Don is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marti, daughters, Cheryl and Rachel, sons, Michael, Tim, Rodney and Roy, brother, Lon and wife Debbie, grandchildren Alyssa, Jacob, Steven, David and Teri and great-grandchildren, Quentin and Allyson as well as other beloved cousins, nieces and nephews and family members who are still here and those who have passed- welcoming him back home.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, April 29, 2022 at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton, Texas. We ask instead of flowers, to donate to his book publishing fund- which was his dying wish.  You can find the GoFundMe donation site here: https://gofund.me/ba41bf55 .  Thank you!!