Ronald Neil Howard

May 8, 1936 – October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024, at the age of 88, Ronald Neil Howard peacefully passed into glory at Keefe Memorial Hospital in Cheyenne Wells. 

Ronnie was born May 8, 1936, to Deloris and E.G. “Buster” Howard in Abernathy, Texas. There were six children born from this union, Raymond, Ronald, Jim, Paula, Rebecca, and LaDonna. Ronnie spent his childhood years growing up on a farm in West Texas.

February 6,1954, Ronnie married the love of his life and best friend, Joyce Marie Buntin. They were blessed with four children, Linda, Rhonda, Chris, and Brad. Ronnie and Joyce started out raising their family while continuing to farm in Texas. Some years later, the family moved to Moses Lake, Washington, where Ronnie invested in and helped build a PVC plastic pipe production plant.

In 1971, Ronnie moved the family to Eads to manage Eads Oil Company. In 1976, the opportunity arose to purchase the Arapahoe gas station in Arapahoe, Colorado. Ronnie purchased the station, relocated his family and started Cheyenne Fertilizer Company. This grew to include a full-service gas station, bulk fuel, propane, fertilizer and custom chemical application. Ronnie loved all aspects of his business, especially running the Big A floaters and Air Ride row crop machines. He lived to spray!

Cheyenne Fertilizer Company offered many services to the community and county. The building of his business, with Joyce along his side, was one of the biggest highlights of his life, but more important yet were the lifelong friendships he acquired throughout the years. Ronnie successfully owned and operated the business for 21 years before retiring. Ronnie was very active in the community, serving on the Arapahoe School Board for nine years and on the No. 1 Fire Protection District Board for two years. He looked forward to the county fair every year, in which he sponsored the Turtle Race from the early 80’s to present. It was an honor for Ron and Joyce to be the Cheyenne County Tumbleweed Fair parade marshals.

After a few vacations and trips to Texas, retirement and being idle didn’t sit well with Ronnie. He went to work for the Kugler Company, his second family, managing the Burlington retail facility until 2004 when he became the Cheyenne County Commissioner for District 3 for four years. 

Ronnie tried retiring again, and still found himself restless. He again turned to the Kugler Company, and this time drove a semi over the road delivering liquid fertilizer. He was 81 years old when he delivered his last load and finally retired for good. During this timeframe, Ronnie acquired many more lifetime friendships. 

Ronnie enjoyed playing cards and dominoes. He was always up for a game. He liked going down to the Arapahoe gas station to drink coffee, visit with all the local farmers, and catch up on the latest news. He also enjoyed eating lunch at the senior center with his friends. He was the ultimate jokester, and always had a story to tell.

Ronnie had a deep love for the Arapahoe community and Cheyenne county, and always considered this to be his home. 

He loved his wife, Joyce, with a passion, and they were married for over 70 years. He was a loving dad, father-in-law, grandpa, great grandpa and great great grandpa, never neglecting to give you hugs and tell you how much he loved you. Spending time with his family was one of his greatest joys. He loved the Lord with all his heart and soul, and that love poured all over his family and friends.

He was a humble and kind man who lived a very full but simple life. Ronnie built an amazing legacy and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Ronnie is proceeded in death by his parents, Deloris and E.G. Howard; infant brother, Raymond Howard; sister, Rebecca Garner; and infant granddaughter, Alissa Brown.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Howard of Arapahoe; children, Linda Watts of Eads, Rhonda (Jim) Brown of Arapahoe, Chris (Karen) Howard of Freemont, Nebraska, and Brad (Lori) Howard of Arapahoe.  He is also survived by 10 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild; as well as by his brother, Jim (Patsy) Howard of Springfield; and sisters, Paula (Greg) Wade of Tuttle, Oklahoma, and LaDonna (Chuck) MacDonald of Spring, Texas; brother-in-law, Peter Garner of Georgetown; aunt, Corky (Teddy) Assiter of Lubbock, Texas; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held November 16, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Cheyenne County Community Building in Cheyenne Wells. Burial will follow in the Arapahoe Cemetery.  

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cheyenne Wells Fire Department.

Arrangements are under the direction of Brown Funeral Home.