Sharon Vail Howell

3/4/1940 ~ 5/26/2021

Sharon Vail Howell, 81, passed peacefully from this life to the next on May 26, 2021, at his home in Fairview, Utah with his wife at his side.
He was born March 4, 1940, in Fairview, Utah to Silas Vail Howell and Alice Irene Jensen, the oldest of seven children.
He married Marie Louise Ericksen on June 29, 1957. They had three children and were later divorced. He married Sylvia Elizabeth (Alderman) Yrjanson on February 7, 1976. He is survived by his wife Sylvia, his children Sharon Jay (Susan), Susan Edgar, and Laura (Kenneth) Stepp, Christopher Yrjanson, Tena (Michael) Hayes and Samantha (Ira) Lim, 24 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren, and brothers Owen (Joyce), Leonard (Lin) and Steven (Debra). He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Donald and Terry, and sister Helen.
He served in the U.S. Marines and Utah National Guard in his early life. He and his young family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he worked in various jobs until he was hired on at Western Electric, and then to Mountain Bell (which is now Century Link) to the engineer department.
After retiring he and his wife Sylvia, traveled around on motorcycles for 10 years with their good friends. He bought a motor home after retiring the bikes and traveled around the states for 3 years. He returned home to Fairview to help take care of his mother.
He went to work for Swift driving trucks to help with the extra family members, then for Auto Meter and later with C. 0. Building Systems to help pay for a grandson’s mission. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in which he held different positions. He was a kind and loving person who greeted everyone with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. He was always willing to step up and help anyone in need. He drove the purple Fairview City ambulance for 15 years and later the new red one for 3 years.
He was a musician at heart who loved singing in the ward choir and with the Sanpete Valley Singers. He loved playing his guitar and harmonica. He was a dedicated runner up until a short time before his death. He competed in the Saint George Marathon twice, once when he was 49 and again when he was 51. He enjoyed camping and hiking, and helped with the ward Young Women’s camp for 10 years. He had a soft spot for animals, and was seldom without a pet, adopting many stray dogs and cats.
We will miss his smile and happy outlook on life, but rejoice for him as he is renewing relationships with loved ones who have preceded him in death.
Memorial services will be held June 12, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. in the Fairview 2nd Ward Chapel followed by Military Honors.

To Watch Recorded Memorial Service Click Here.