Howard Jene Waters
March 15, 1937 – June 28, 2021
Howard Jene Waters, 84 years old, died peacefully on June 28, 2021 at Cedar City Hospital with his wife Gail Waters and other loved family members by his side.
Howard was born on March 15, 1937 in Preston, Idaho, to Howard Edward Waters and Farrell Jensen Waters. When he was a young child, his family moved to Ogden, Utah, and he later graduated from Ogden High School. Shortly after graduating from high school in 1955, Howard joined the United States Air Force in 1956. Howard was assigned to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Howard was then married to Gail Datwyler on December 26, 1956. After three weeks of marriage, Howard was transferred to Air Force Base in France. He was later transferred to Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico, where his two eldest sons, Howard and Mike, were born. After an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, he moved with his family to Ogden, Utah, where he attended and graduated from Weber State College, majoring in English literature. Howard’s two daughters, Wendy and Janette, were born in Ogden during this time. After successfully completing his bachelor’s degree, he completed his master’s degree at Brigham Young University with a focus on journalism. In 1969, Howard moved to the Porterville, California, community and began his life’s work as a high school and community college teacher for 27 years. During this time his two youngest sons Bret and Boyd were born. After touching many lives over the course of his teaching career, Howard and Gail retired to Cedar City, Utah, in 1996. Howard and Gail loved living in Cedar City, especially their relationships with wonderful neighbors and friends who became family to them.
As a teacher, Howard has made a positive impact on thousands of students throughout his career. The students talked constantly about Howard’s impact on their lives, sometimes many years later. Howard learned all his life what was shown in his love of reading. In addition to his love of reading, Howard was a prolific writer and published author. In Porterville, Howard spent many years in community theater and public service. Howard served in church service including serving as a bishop and temple worker for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Howard also loved running, fishing, and had a significant need to purchase vehicles that broke down while his children were passengers.
Howard is survived by his wife Gail Waters; Sisters Sue Robinson and Sherry Della Silva and brother Scott Waters; his daughter Wendy Waters and son-in-law Martin; his daughter Janette Waters; his four sons and their wives Howard and Dawn Waters, Michael and Lisa Waters, Bret and Jessica Waters, Boyd and Mary Waters; his twenty grandchildren and his ten great-grandchildren.
Special thanks go to Intermountain Healthcare Cedar City and Stonehenge in Cedar City for their exemplary care. Thanks to the kindness of Cedar City Hospital intensive care nurse Vickie, who volunteered her phone, Howard’s children were able to speak to virtually all of his children shortly before he died.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 2, at 10 a.m. at Latter-day Saints’ Church of Jesus Christ at 638 East Canyon Center Drive in Cedar City, Utah.
The Graveside Inauguration will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 6, at Logan City Cemetery at 1000 North 1200 East, Logan, Utah, under the direction of the Southern Utah Mortuary. Online condolences can be sent at www.sumortuary.com.
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