Ken went to be with the Lord last evening. May we make this thread a tribute to the man?

Oh, so sad, I liked Ken a lot.

I'm glad he finally got what he has been wishing for.

R.I.P., Old Friend.

RIP Ken!

Sorry to hear of this.

God bless Ken.

Wish he was back and young again.

Free now,...off into a cold dark sky ablaze, the firmament in all it's beauty.

Death CAN ride a white horse.

GTC

Like him or not, it's all irrelevant now. He wasn't the only person to not get along with everyone he crossed paths or dealt with. God bless, rest in peace.

May Ken's memory be eternal.


Dan

R.I.P Dr Howell.

I saw the thread and wondered if this was what I'd read.

He needs no more faith nor hope. Pretty awesome.

he gave me peace when I needed it, may God give him peace and hold him in his hand forever. Good bye my friend.
the world is poorer today.

RIP Ken

May God richly bless his memory to us all.

RIP Ken

RIP Ken. No more suffering.

R.I.P. Friend

See ya on the other side old friend.
And say hi to your lovely wife for me.

Another good one gone but never forgotten.

RIP Dr Howell

R.I.P. Mr. Howell.

Godspeed, Mr. Howell.

RIP Mr Howell.

R.I.P. Dr. Howell.

May God reunite him with his beloved Carol Ann.

I always enjoyed conversing with him. I bought a couple of books and a borescope from him. He had a unique intellect and character, that we won't likely see again.

Very sorry to hear of the passing of Dr. Ken Howell. May he have eternal peace.

Ken has been actively wishing to pass on for a long time. It's good that he no longer suffers.

Ken was a world-class authority on Mark Twain, a consummate dean of the English language, a global hunter, gifted photographer, cartridge designer, and a military veteran.

Adios, amigo.

Thanks for the notice. He was a wealth of knowledge acquired via experience. His days will be a bit easier now and the horizons a bit wider.

I'm on a mountain stalking a couple coues bucks and RWE texted me.

I'm sad for me and happy for Ken, he has wanted this for a long time.

I'll he back down off the mountain in a bit, this is a good place to reminence.

Kent

R.I.P Doc!









Mike

Good for Ken, he seemed to have wanted this for a while now.

RIP

Very saddened to hear this! Rest in peace Dr. Howell..
Lest we forget...

We lost a good man.

Nice sentiments, men, but my guess is that Ken has better things to than visit an internet site. Good guy, though, and I'm glad he is with the Lord.

Doc Howell was one of the great ones. Sorry to see him leave.
Looking forward to sharing another campfire with him later on.
7mm

Did he leave a wife? A family?

We are diminished.

No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were:
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.

John Donne

R.I.P. friend Ken.

He accomplished much in his sojourn here.

I always liked to read his stuff, he had his opinions and could back them up.

To all but the lead dog, the view is the same. Those who challenged him, were his distractors, they only revealed their relative position pulling the sled...

Rest is peace, Dr. Howell. You enriched us.

DF

I believe his son is a member here.

R.I.P. Kenneth Howell,I WILL miss you.

Rest in peace, Mr Howell

RIP, Ken.

Good man gone.

May he find the peace he longed for with his wife.

Rest well my friend!
I just wish I had awakened you at the hospital last week.
"The Warden" and I will always remember you, and miss you.

Ken has finally joined his beloved Carol Ann. She was the light of his life.

Ken became a dear friend and mentor to me. His knowledge of Scripture, Mark Twain, internal and external ballistics, human nature, and history were things to admire.

Opinionated, absolutely, but with reason. He tried to not open his mouth unless he could back up what he said. Did he do it each and every time? Of course not. He was human.

This medium did not allow him to communicate as well as he wanted and constantly commented on how things get misconstrued, and our tendency to get upset about things that were taken out of context. He included himself in that.

He was human, with all his faults and frailties, but he was also one of the most compassionate, generous, loving people I have ever met.

Ken loved people and he loved to learn. He was still writing right up until he went into the hospital. In order to write, he had to do research, and he learned something every day.

I will miss him greatly and our long conversations about anything and everything.

One of the last things Ken asked me to do was transfer a VHS tape to digital media of a couple of public lectures he did before his stroke and make them available to anyone who wanted to see them. I will get it transferred to digital media and see if I can get them uploaded to YouTube.

Rest in Peace, my friend.

Ed

I hope safariman didn't end up with the .45.




Travis

I will miss Ken. His intelligence and broad knowledge were a light to all of us.

The grief is there for those that knew the man, the celebration is that he has escaped to join his carol ann. He touched a lot of lives, and from that little seed started the quemato campfires rondy's which he inspired. And inspired friendships among those attending, where none would have known each other except for that.
He will be sorely missed.
ron

R.I.P. Mr. Ken Howell.
I met him at a couple get togethers. A real nice man to sit and talk with. Wish I could have done that more. He is finally at his resting place where he has wanted to be for some time now.
Happy hunting in the Heavens Mr. Howell.

R.I.P Ken.

When an obituary gets published, somebody please post the link to it here.

I knew that someday, I'd be reading a thread like this. Rest in Peace Ken. The long ordeal is over.

The first step to eternal life is you have to die.

~ Carry on Ken.

Rest in peace.

RIP Dr. Ken Howell.

He taught me a lot. He will be missed.

And some pictures, recent as well as not so, would be nice as well.

This man deserves honored.

My first thought as well.

RIP Ken, It was a long road but you made it.

R.I.P. seemed like a good man trapped in a bad situation. Hope he rests well.

May he and his beloved Carol Ann share their love all through eternity.

I will miss him and remember this way.

Damn. You knew it was coming and it's still hard.

RIP Ken. You have a whole new crop to be teaching now.

Here's Ken with my daughter last year.

Sad news. I often like to read his posts from years ago. Rest in eternal peace Dr.Howell. I will miss you.

Bob

R.I.P. Mr. Howell.

R.I.P. Dr. Howell.

I always enjoyed Ken's contribution to the fire.

RIP Doc. Glad I got to spend some time with you!!!

Sad news indeed.

I could never understand why several regulars here were such pricks to him.

I will remember him for his writings in various magazines and manuals and especially my personally autographed edition of Custom Cartridges. I learned a lot about how cases are manufactured, the COW/bulletless method of case forming and case annealing from this fine book.

R.I.P. Ken.

God bless him and keep him close. We are sad, but I know that he is joyful. I'll not grieve for him--he's where he has wanted to go for a long time.

R.I.P. Ken

Beat me to it - seemed very appropriate.

RIP Ken.

Ken was one of a few members here that took the time effort and expense to send care packages to me back in 2003. They were enjoyed and appreciated by my small group of Marines.

Ken was one of the good guys.

It had to take some fortitude for Ken to endure his last few years.

I was thinking of the Stones...

No, you can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometime you find
You get what you need

I think Ken got what he wanted and needed to ease himself.

back a long time ago, i was a officer at a local bank in prescott, and a aspiring gunnut. As such, wolfe publishing/rifle/handloader were my clients. I had to do business calls and thought it a great scam to spend the afternoons at their offices. Dave wolfe, neil knox, ralph tanner, and of course Ken. Being a banker i didn't have any money. Asked their collective opinion about one rifle i could own that would do anything i needed doing. It came down to a LH remington 700 bdl in 30.06. Their comments were not best at any one thing, but would do most any one thing. So years later and a LOT of firearms accumulated, and i killed a elk last time with that same rifle. Should have stopped there. I talked about this at various times with Ken, and would get a grin from him. He and the others, all gone now, were responsible for a life long hobby. Ken knew his stuff. I have a cigar box filled with new brass of various calibers that he gave me, i am sure used in his writings.
Not too long back i was at his house talking about fireforming/loading for a .358norma magnum. He goes over to the computer, fires it up, and was right on top of it.
He may have gotten old and frail, but his mind sure didn't.
Lord, shared experiences. There is a mexican restaurant called the El Charro next to where wolfe's corporate offices use to be. He had lunch there several times a week just like I did. In email chats, after all those years, he remembered how good the food was. and still is.
Ken knew I think all the major players in the gun business.
And was just a fountain of knowledge for me.
And probably not well known, he was a religious man too. His mind was always active. And he could converse on a wide variety of things.

Sad to hear of Dr Howell's passing. It would have been a pleasure to meet the man.

RIP sir.

RIP.

Sorry to learn of his passing. I know he is now where he has wanted to be...

I first met Ken in 1978, we attended the same church in Prescott, AZ. Ken was editor at Wolf Publishing then.

Ken had me over a few times for dinner and then to watch John Wayne movies in his "bunk house".
During one of these visits Ken showed me his new creation, his 416 Howell.

We both had Paul Marquart make us 7mm barrels for 280 RCBS builds.

His children, Evelyn, Lois, and Ben are some of the finest people you will ever meet.

I can tell you it was a real pleasure to meet the man... and be able to speak with him... he was a very humble and giving man..

I've gotten to meet him and a lot of other great campfire members going to the Quemado get2gather, and the Feb one in northern AZ...

I'm glad he's in a place with the one he loves and now he can always be young and never have to live with the pain of growing old...

instead of his greatness, I'll remember him most for his humility...

I only knew him from the Fire, but enjoyed his input on many subjects.

Congrats on a life well lived. RIP

Rest in Peace, old friend. Your long suffering is now, at last, at it's end.

Having read Ken's posts here since I came on and having had a few pow-wows, I got the impression of a man who felt trapped and wanted to be elsewhere. Ken is free now. He is where he wanted to be and with his Love. No sorrow from me. Rest easy Ken Howell.

I had feared this but know that he was ready to pass from this world. We met many moons ago at the first rendezvous (Raton) and have corresponded ever since about cartridge designs. Our last e-mail was back in November and I took ill myself and was unable to send him my latest design coming out of the shop. A copy of his book is always within easy reach either by the layout bench or the lathe, an indispensable reference. Teri will be sad to hear of his passing too. Go with God Ken.

Dana & Teri Estes

Rest in peace, sir.

Sad thing for me is that we corresponded a while back on recipes, soup and such and I never did get any of them, had always meant to call him, partly to hear what his voice sounded like, you know how you sometimes imagine what someone will sound like, then you hear them and it is not like you expect at all, had also hoped to chat about some of the firearms he had and some of his cartridges to see if they might be a good project.
Would have been nice to know he had been taken to the hospital and was that close to the end.

His passing makes me sad, rip Mr. Howell

Rest in Peace Mr. Howell..........

Sorry to hear of Ken's death. Best wishes and condolences to his family.

L.W.

Sorry to hear, he was one of the special one's here who helped make this site what it is and will be greatly missed.

Phil

Rest in Peace. Salute.

RIP Dr. Howell.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ken a few years ago in Cody when Paladin brought him to his house for a few days. I expected Ken to be a little on the arrogant side but I was really surprised at his humble manner. One of the nicest, most knowledgeable people I have ever had the pleasure of visiting with. And at the campfire gathering in Arizona last year. Seemed like most of the guys there were looking for a chance to talk with him for a while so I waited until we all headed home and went to his house for a couple of hours for a private visit. I really felt sorry for him having to live like he was but now the God that he loved has given him an eternal home in heaven where nobody will have to endure suffering and pain.

Rest in eternal peace, my friend.

RIP Doc!

RIP Mr. Howell

Home is the Hunter

Home from the Hill

I knew before I opened this that it would be about Ken passing on. He was a very fine man and will be sorely missed. Rest in peace my friend.

Jim

I think we all knew this day was coming. Ken hadn't been well for a long time, and now his suffering is no more. I don't think there's a man here who hasn't learned something from Ken.

He was truly one of the good ones, and his loss will be taken very hard by many here. Now he's gone on to hunt in a far better place, where the hills aren't so steep, the drags no so long.

Adios amigos, until we meet again.

Dr. Howell joins a pantheon of greats the like of which we will never see or hear of again.

Rest in peace.

Sad news.. RIP

rest in peace with the Lord,Ken



norm

I believe he will understand my excitement of HALLELUJAH! God bless his family, friends, and loved ones.

He was a man that I am proud to call a Friend. I am sad about His passing but glad that He suffers no more. miles

Indeed..

He had quite the wit about him - and I won't forget the sparkle in his eyes when he told a story..

RIP Ken.., RIP..

May God Bless and Keep him.

BMT

I did not know Ken personally,but did banter with him here.RIP to a good man.

R.I.P. Jagd Vorbei - The Hunt Is Over

Goodbye sir.

Back in '04 I think, Ken and I discussed how best to write some technical papers and process manuals. He told me to record myself, talking just as I did to him, then write that.

I sent him a couple of pages to edit and he acted happy to be helpful.

R.I.P. Mr. Howell.

Rest In Peace Mr Howell.

ya know Miles, this got me to thinking...

I haven't known Ken long enough to be considered a friend of his...but in the time of knowing him, I can certainly call myself a Student of his...amazing how he could share his wisdom in some of the simplest conversations...

he was always a kind gentleman to those I saw around him...

I stood in awe of his humility, especially considering all he had seen, done and accomplished in his time on this earth... his humility probably impressed me the most...and he never talked down to anyone I ever saw...

and at the last get2gather, I was so happy to still see him being the jokester, even tho I am sure he wasn't feeling all that up and at'em...

Met Dr Howell a few times and a couple years ago had a long interesting chat.

The journey may be over but the adventure is just beginning.

May God rest your soul.

Seemed like a great man. He can now be with the loved ones he's lost

R.I.P. Ken Howell.

Wayne

RIP to Ken. He was a very unique person with an exceptional grasp of cartridges.....

In his own words from nearly three years ago.




http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/7446807/1

Yep.

Experience the same sinking feeling.

DF

Ken gets to walk the fields and hunt again this year. God speed.

I am one who never had the privilege to have met Ken, but I learned a lot from him and enjoyed the knowledge that he share here on the campfire. May God comfort his family that he is leaving behind.

I only conversed with him via p.m. a few times but he was very polite and helpfull. There's a time to morn and a time to celebrate, it should be celebrated that he is reaping his reward for the life he lead. RIP Mr. Howell enjoy eternity.

Condolences

Very sad news. Ken was a good guy. RIP MR. Howell...

Our campfire is greatly diminished by his loss.

Bummer.

I'm not sorry for Ken, because I know the good ones all go to a better place. However, my day just got quite a bit darker.

I'll go shake the rattle in his direction.

Drat.

Skywards I hope

He will be missed. RIP.

RIP Dr. Howell and my sincere condolences to his family.

While I am saddened that he's passed and will miss his writings here, I am at the same time glad that he is now with his beloved Carol Ann, and gets to wander the happy hunting grounds with Qtip, M Colemam, Eddy Bo and a host of others who have left us.

Garry

A good man gone and I'll miss his words.

R.I.P. Ken

Dan

RIP, Sir & Godspeed.

MM

rest in peace dr Ken and godspeed

Ken was a very talented man, well read, creative and passionate about his interests. He sincerely was a friend to all, even to his most venemous foes to whom he always had an olive beach to extend. Yes, he was less than than perfect, he could wallow in self pity on bad days, but at the same time was a champion of the written word and of our Lord.

Ken certainly became a long distant friend of mine. He had words of encouragement and praise for my daughter in her studies and career, and made sure that I got to know one of his best Navy buddies who lives near me

I'll miss Ken, but am comforted in knowing his faith comforted him, and he is reunited with his love.

I suppose he would be pleased if I quoted Robert Louis Stevenson on his behalf

[/i]Home is the sailor, home from the sea
And the hunter from the hill[i]

God bless you and keep you in his arms my friend.

Condolences to those effected by his passing. RIP

The next MRC build should be the 416 Howell with a nice tribute on the barrel to Dr. Howell.

No need to hope.
We all know.

KNOW!

Rick is probably already working on it.
A new forum title (well above the basement, mind) if not may I suggest.

All Ken's writings.
Everything you can get your hands on.
Reloading to religion.
Grammer to syntax.
Hunting stories to talk of his dearly missed beloved.
Everything in between... and beyond.

Start a new forum topic.

No posting allowed.
Just read and enjoy or go read something else.

This man deserves to be honored.
Get busy, Rick, please, if you already aren't.
Thank you.

I had forgotten about that IB, While I didn't think it funny at the time it actually was quite funny.

I remember when Sonny aka NeedOne introduced Ken to the forum.
RIP Ken.

Two great guys gone.

Dangit. I never met the man but really enjoyed reading him on here. I still have a copy of his "Make Every Word Tell" word document that he offered up here years ago. I waive it around to our technical staff when they need some coaching in technical writing.

Hat tip to a life well-lived.

sd

I believe this was his last post.

"My former father-in-law was a medical
missionary in China, 1921–1949. After
the defeat of Japan, he had occasion
to treat a Japanese major who'd tried
to commit hara kiri with his ritual
dagger but was too fat to stab and
slash deep enough to reach any vital
organ. The officer was screaming for
help when Dr Colberg got to him.
_________________________
"Good enough" isn't.

Always take your responsibilities seriously but never yourself."

I only knew Ken by his writings and a couple of PM's from him here on the 'Fire. I think he was more than ready to for his next chapter.

R.I.P. kind Doctor. No more suffering, just joy with your lost loved ones.

Earth is now a lesser place.
And Heaven a better one.

That's a fact.

R.I.P. Dr. Howell.

Until the day.

Rest in Peace, Dr. Howell.

R.I.P. Dr. Howell.

Mike

Ken wrote a poem back in 2008 that I asked him if I could use on my obituary card some day. He gave me his permission and asked only if I might give him him credit for writing it. I have kept it all these years and feel it might be proper to share it again now.

If the pine trees sigh the day I die,
Let no one ooze a tear.
If grass turns brown as an angel's frown,
It's not 'cause I'm not here.
If the sky be blue, let none of you,
When sets my last day's sun.
Where deer be seen, wait there in e'en'
One and all — having fun!

Ken Howell – 11/23/08

Many thanks for all ken, you were one of a kind.

R.I.P.

RIP, Dr. Howell. You will be missed.......



maddog

Rest is peace , Dr. Howell.

RIP Dr. Howell.

Not his last post, but a cookie recipe he was quite fond of and shared with the "fire" . . .

I had re-typed it for my own use. They are good, assuming you like coconut . . .

I never met the man, but I have missed his posts the last couple of years and considered him a friend. He did have a way with words .

Godspeed, Dr. Ken . . .
____________________________________________
Honey-Anise-Coconut Cookies
(from Dr. Ken Howell)

• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup honey
• 3½ cups flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp anise (I used crushed star anise. You may prefer to use anise seed or anise flavoring — or a different amount of star anise. As Shakespeare said, "As you like it." )
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup coconut flakes


Preheat oven to 350º F.

Beat 1 cup of butter and 2 cups of sugar until mix is fluffy.

Beat-in 2 large eggs and ½ cup of honey.

Gradually add 3½ cups of flour, 2 tsp of baking soda, 2 tsp of anise, 1 tsp of vanilla, and 1 cup of coconut flakes.

Drop and pat large spoonfuls onto sprayed cookie sheet.

Bake 12 minutes.

A wise man that went in his sleep. It just doesn't get any better than that.

And the Sailor, home from the sea. He was Navy too..

CCCC;
Thanks for letting us know of Ken's passing.

I exchanged a few PM's over the years and purchased a book from him too once and only know him from that.

My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family left behind.

Dwayne

He will surely be missed. I will miss sharing the word with him and learning from him and also sending an email late at night while at work, just to say hi and let him know he wasn't forgotten. He was a great man and someone I had great respect for and will always have great respect for.
RIP Tata. Love you old man.

Yes, rest in peace and joy.

RIP Mr Howell

So saddened to hear of Dr. Howells passing. His journey is over and he is home.

George

I enjoyed Ken's stories immensely. He is missed.

Now, Dr. Howell;

Go Rest High On That Mountain

Renaissance man

Word Origin
noun
1.
a cultured man of the Renaissance who was knowledgeable, educated, or proficient in a wide range of fields.
2.
(sometimes lowercase) a present-day man who has acquired profound knowledge or proficiency in more than one field.


Thank you and Godspeed, Mr. Howell. It was truly our pleasure.

Well, I hate the idea that he's gone, but I am glad that he finally got what he sought. It was my pleasure to correspond with him on several occasions, and I always felt like I came out of it with an education.

He had a stellar command of the English language and will be sorely missed.

May God bless and keep him, and may he be blessed to spend eternity with his Savior and his beloved.

Rest in peace Ken

I remember that. He really didn't appreciate when I suggested that if he subbed (more) coconut for the anise, he'd really be onto something. Then again, I'm a coconut fan.

RIP

R.I.P. Good Dr.

So sorry to read this news. Ken's demise is our great loss. He was one of those I dearly would have liked to meet in person.

My sympathy to his survivors.

I know, he told me he wanted to be with his wife.
RIP Mr. Howell

Sorry to hear about Ken...rest in peace Sir.

RIP Ken,

can't you just picture him and her together again, holding hands and smiling.........

God Bless.

Rest in Peace Ken

Sorry to hear it.

That's great to hear. It seemed to me that he had long been ready to go and be reunited with his wife.

I suspect he's at more peace now than he has been for awhile, but I also suspect he won't be doing much resting.

Congratulations on your graduation, Dr. Howell!

Rest in peace Mr. Ken

RIP Dr. Howell. I always enjoyed reading his posts and opinions. Very knowledgeable man. Rest easy, you are home now.

John

Dr. Howell sent me several essays on how to teach the English language after I mentioned my admiration of his writing. I've used that advice working with teenagers in high school several times and am grateful for his act of kindness.

RIP, Dr. Howell.

RIP and all the best to the family.

Here is a man with insight.
Very well spoken (par).

How can one lament loss when there is gain?

This morning upon opening this thread I brewed up my best cup of coffee.
This evening I cracked seal my best bottle of scotch.
And I'm enjoying a good cigar, to boot.

Prost!

Barak just told me of Ken's passing. He was a strong and courageous man. Barak and I visited him in person in New Mexico several years ago. Praying that he will rest in peace, and be welcomed to Heaven by the wife that he adored, who is waiting there for him.

Penny

I will miss not reading his posts, RIP Dr. Ken

What was the name of the small town he retired in. seems like it was in southern N.M.



/

Enjoy Eternity Ken:

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!

Quemado and it is about two hours west of Socorro,NM.

^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
He is missed.

My

I had an Alix Bradlay American today to toast him. What are you having?

^^^This^^^

Never had the pleasure to meet him, but I really enjoyed reading both his articles and his posts. May he RIP.

RIP Dr. Howell. I enjoyed what he brought to this site. His knowledge and his mindset and character that felt to me like a connection to a different generation.

May Ken RIP.

I always wanted to meet him, but never made it to a Quemado gathering. We exchanged a few emails and I appreciated the cold honesty of his criticism (which was requested) and the depth of his knowledge.

RIP Dr Howell

Rest in peace Mr Howell.

RIP Ken.

i broke my long standing policy of not drinking, and had a shot glass of some 70year old hennessy/conac brandy brought over from europe.

RIP Mr. Howell

RIP Dr Howell
I am happy for you, but sad for us.

The campfire has lost several fine members in 2015.

The Joy of the Lord.
I think Ken would appreciate that.

A little nip of this, and a tumbler full of that.
Along with a game of tickle bugs and piggy back rides with the kids before tucking them in for the night.

I think Ken would appreciate that, too.

Dear God I wish he could have met these two before he passed on.

But he's seen pictures along the way, I'm sure he'll remember...
and prolly wrinkle his nose at the smell of my cigar.



Again I say, Prost!

Rest in peace, Dr Howell.

Godspeed Dr. Howell

He will be missed.I enjoyed reading his posts and short stories. I would loved to meet him, but now that will have to wait. When I get off work in the morning Dr. Howell I will toast you with a shot of the fine home made Rye a good friend gave me last week.

R.I.P, Dr. Howell.
Maybe he's now able to fully enjoy eating the food he often talked so fondly about but couldn't in his mortal life.

R.I.P. Dr. Howell

Rest in Peace Mr. Howell

dave

RIP. He can eat and hunt all he wants to now! A fine man.

I'm happy for Ken, free at last.

And may we all go out so well thought of by so many.

My wife and I stopped in to visit some years back, Ken was a gracious and informative host.

Birdwatcher

May he Rest In Peace.....



maddog

Ken's passing has left a void, a hole in the heart of many who knew him as a friend. I for one, am left with such a hole in my heart.

Part of me thinks of a good friend gone too soon, while another part of me is glad he is gone, finally free of his personal bondage, a sharp, quick witted, caring, giving, humorous, knowledgeable, educated and therefore opinionated, mind trapped in a broken down body.

All too often the answer to the question of what do you need was the same - get me a new body.

I won't miss seeing Ken in a condition I could do nothing to change. I will, however, miss Ken dearly for the remainder of the days I walk the earth.

David

Cheezits... about the only thing I could get him he could use, he'd chew them and spit them out... How he'd smile.

Kent

Many of his Compadres here have commented about the "sparkle" in his eye.

....hell, it was a bright as welding arc when he really turned it on !

GTC

Never got him the peppermint candy, huh? Same effect.

Ahhh... So you were the peppermint enabler...

Kent

When we visited Ken,we gave him Cheeto's cheese puffs.

And you, the Cheezits. Might have known.

Ha, love it... Bunch of snack enablers

Kent

Yup!

Seafire, it is good that you could trouble yourself to drive all the way over for the Quemado gatherings. As you know from our meeting at the last one, I had car trouble and only got there very late.

While I did meet some great people, one of the ones I wanted to see and missed was Ken.

I have followed his writings for years and hoped to get his thoughts on some of the rifles I had brought, particularly my LH custom .375H&H on a 700 action that I had Butch Searcy convert to CRF with a Winchester 70-style extractor and ejector. Now I will never enjoy that opportunity.

I have very much enjoyed the outpouring of nice words about him here. I gather that he was a bit crusty, but then aren't we all?

I wish Dr. Howell the unbridled freedom to shoot. Build, write, and be free of the human chains we will all endure to one point or another.

To his friends and family, I offer my condolences for the void left in your world. While I read much of what Ken wrote, I never had the opportunity to meet him and that is my loss.

Like retiring a great athlete's number, I hope Rick Bin can find a way to immortalize his avatar.

Godspeed great doctor.

Very sorry to hear this news.

That's a bullseye!

I never got to meet him face to face, the desert south west is a long haul from my little sandy knoll, but I could see that spark all the way from here in his every post, private message, and email communication.

He never grew weary of my questions or comments. He talked me through a lot of things, troubled and joy filled. He was always there with wit and wisdom and knowledge.
He even chewed my ass a few times when I needed it.

I knew the day would come.
It's like loosing both a father and a brother at the same time.

He left this world a lesser place.
But he left me a better man.

RIP Dr. Howell
You Will be missed.

RIP Dr.

Happy Trails, I will miss his post.

RIP.

May he Rest in Peace. He was an interesting, generous fellow that I made a point to visit when he lived in Stevensville, MT. He had informed opinions, though some were a bit dated, but that is so forgivable when you saw his sincerity and true interest in others.

I am certain he is much more comfortable now.

Regards,

Shortside

You have put it much better than I could. I was privileged to have sat and talked with him for many hours, soaking up every word I could.
I wish that more could have sat with him. They would understand why we grieve him as we do.

Ken spoke of you very highly and you impacted him enough that he remarked how much he enjoyed your conversations.

I'm in the same group with Paladin, there is a hole in my heart with Ken's passing and I look forward to the day we can sit and talk once again.

Ed

A good man gone, a loss here but he had confidence about his future. Wish I had half of his knowledge.

he posted his family hushpuppy recipe years back. i thanked him with a jar of home-made fig preserves. he couldn't eat them but he could taste them.

RIP, sir!

I was his Reeses Peanut Butter Cup and Milky Way enabler.

Ed

I am indeed sorry to hear this news. Ken Howell was (and always will be in my mind) a true scholar and straight shooter. RIP!

After "knowing" Ken via internet and phone calls for years, meeting him face to face was on my bucket list.

So I made the long haul to a Quemado get-together a couple of years ago and got to scratch that one off.

My hearing was so bad, and his voice so weak that we mostly conversed in sign language and grunts, but we connected in "The Language of the Heart" which was more important.

I think a tribute he would like, for those of us fortunate enough to have them, would be to re-read some of his religious essays.

At least, I intend to.

A few years ago he wrote a book on His religious views, and sent it to some via USB stick. I have that, but have not read it. I started printing it and ran out of ink, and somehow never got back to it. I sent the stick back to Him, but have a copy on my computer. I really need to read it. miles

Haha apple flavored soda too...

I think I have all of the chapters of his latest work, including the draft of the last one he was working on about speaking in tongues. I need to assemble them and go back over them.

Ed

I never met Ken but I enjoyed his writings and posts here on the Campfire. He was an important part of why I came to visit here. Rest in peace Ken. Say hello to Mickey Coleman and the rest of the 24 Hour gang when you get a minute would you please, Ken.
Thanks for the memories.

Kwg

RIP Ken, I know you have been suffering for a long time.

RIP Ken, I know you have been suffering for a long time.

Godspeed and bright skies, Dr. Howell.

There are a few folks up above that I really wish I had known personally, all of them straight shooters. Dr. Howell is on the short list, and I'll miss his posts here.

Hey, Miles,...looks like , between the lot of us,....we have a pretty complete "compendium" of Ken's musings,ponderings,and philosophical observations. Private BSing's too.

I'm going to make a dedicated New Years "resolution" to get em' colated, indexed, and generally recorded ( they are voluminous,... run out of ink dittos)

Of particular value to me are his ventures into "Cowboy Poetry",...
I've run it past a few of the noted names, and they agree ,...

I sent him the lyrics to this one some years back,....we were talking about values, boundaries, and rising tides of change...not a bad night to put it up, in his honor, and in profound respect for the "old codes". He figured that Don Edwards got it right.

Pouring a shot of good rye left from the last rondy here,...and looking skyward towards the pastures he now roams......

Link:

Greg,

Don Edwards was an appropriate thought and tribute....

The one I think as appropriate is one of my Don Edwards favorites:



never fails to bring a tear to my old eyes.....

you're "forever young" now Ken...

Glad it was what he wished for, sorry he is gone.

RIP Ken.

I was looking through my Lee handloader book last night and there was ole Ken RIP my good man.

What a guy, such a legacy! I never met the man, but did feel his blessings! Inquired here about stainless steel pots and pans, he sent a brand new set and wouldn't take anything in return! I have shared the story with many and cooked quite a few meals with them and felt the flavors of a good man shining throughout! I am glad he got what he was wishing for, I've known a few others that have had similar wishes as their work here was done! It was a relief when it happened.
If anyone gets the writings compiled somewhere, I'd be interested in reading them as well! I could cut and paste them all into a google drive and share with the web, post a link here and anyone with the link could see them.

With his daughter down at Greg's.

Darby and shootinglady, I took the photo and Gwen sent me a copy.

Ken and Greg pow'wowing in the lurk...

RIP Dr. You're missed already..

I never met the man but I truly enjoyed reading his posts. Humility, knowledge, rapier wit.

"Wearing a suit never made anyone a tailor."

I wonder if the 24HCF admins could compile his posts into a read-only forum?

With his Ruger 1911

I've only known Ken as just Ken, not Dr or gunwriter/editor or author... just Ken.

He was in the hospital close to me, far from home. I went to see if he needed anything or just an ear...stranger to stranger.

I told him I didn't know who he was, some gun expert but I'm an archery hunter mostly... he gripped my hand and said 'I forgive you, glad to meet you' with that big smile... and we hit it off.

He was much like the old guys that took a runny nosed kid teaching outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, cooking... how to be a man. Dry humor and quick wit, it was fun trading vernacular with him.

Those old guys are all gone now...and so is Ken... adios amigo.

Kent

A wealth of information and he'll be missed. Prayers lifted for his family.

BP...

About a week before Christmas 2014,Judy,Brenna and I went to visit Ken. At that time I had the itch for a 8mm Rem mag and told Ken my idea of the rifle I wanted. We went back and forth,Ken trying to convince me that I did not need it,me trying to convince Ken that I did. Finally,he said "You need a frontal lobotomy" then he grinned at me with that sparkle in his eye!

Ahhh good times.

Spring of 2014

Rest in peace, Mr. Howell.

Condolences to his family...

David, I like that picture. miles

A lot of his stuff is Copyrighted. miles

Thank you Miles.

Thanks for saying, Ed.

I left off communications with him couple or 3 years ago. I could tell it was becoming difficult for him.
Plus he had projects he wanted to finish. Things to write and with time left to use more a factor every day...

Sure wish I could have visited him.
Just once.

Strait to the kitchen, I'd have went.
Cook us up a good meal.

I wish even more he could have met my lady and our children.
The kids would have called him grandpa Ken from first eye contact.
And it would have fit.

I've already missed him for a couple years. And I knew this thread was coming.
But that doesn't make it any easier...

Wed. 30 December, 2015, A Cowboy Fly By,...Old Friend's Last Visit ?

Some years back, I was honored to have an old and honored friend, Ken Howell as a visitor to my very utilitarian and somewhat drafty old home, during a get together with an interesting of new and old friends, many of them first encountered, “on-line” . On Ken's first visit he stayed in the Bedroom up on the West end of the place,...at that time I resided in one over on the East side. The following year he stayed on the East side,....I'd moved my quarters, as it were. During these “Rondys”, the place would temporarily morph into a small village, R.V.s, tents, campers, folks bedded down on floors and on straw bales around a large fire out back, in the “Lurk”.
I'd missed seeing him and my other friends for several gatherings in other places,...time constraints, border issues, and budget have kept me tied pretty close to , and down on this little farm aborning. We were in very close contact via the internet, and both shared a love of good English text, well crafted and applied. I knew he was in a bad way up in the hospital, over in Albuquerque, and that prospects were unlikely that he'd leave the place alive.
I've lived in TENTS that were tighter and less drafty than this old desert classic, my current abode, and never heat the whole place,...this last Tuesday was one of the more ornery cold and windy days on record this year, 12* F at midnight, with a steady North wind....60 watt heaters under the rabbit's nesting boxes, a heat lamp up on the water well's pressure switch, the sleeping quarters buttoned up, and a little low wattage heat in play there, too. My old Queensland Heeler Grace, and her apprentice, “Nip” were in for the night, and the upper San Pedro Valley very, very quiet. Gracey was very fond of Ken, she'd done a bit of hanging out with him, and I think he was fond of her, too. Nip arrived here well after those visits, and had never met the man.
Just before 0400, Gracey literally SPRANG to her feet, and started poking around her side of the bedroom,...very quiet, yet intensely focused being the best description of her unusual behavior. When it's that cold, I don't have to get dressed, I'm in heavy pajamas and socks, and sliding into mocasins can see me out the door in a flash. So,...I turned on the bedside light, and while quizzing Gracey in annoyed tones, got into my Topsiders. I 'd completely missed the fact that on her side of the bed, Nip was standing with every hair on her straight up, and in a condition of real alarm. As Gracey and I came around her corner , she jumped Grace and commenced to chewing. It was pretty Western for a moment or two, but I got them to quit, ….they are really good that way. I opened kicked Nip out the door on that end and , thinking that some sort of animal may have bust into the place, opened the door into the Kitchen / Living room area. Gracey FLEW to the closed back bedroom door, and pawed at it,....I followed, and let her in,.....she poked all around, came back out, and gave me a really puzzled look.
What the hell,....turn on the central heater,....fill up a jug with hot water to take out to the Rabbits, and see how they're doing. Gracey made a beeline for the campfire area, and went to poking around there,....Nip joined her. I went out and freshened the rabbit's water,...checked the nestboxes for kits due any day now, and spent a moment or two looking off to the Northeast, towards Alburquerque, wondering about my Old Compadre, and as always just amazed and humbled at the glory of a clear desert sky, one under which one can read by starlight alone.
As noted it was really a mite too nippy to be sporting about in pajamas, I called up Grace, and leaving Nip out, made it back under the warm covers,...she hopped up, and settled in at my feet.
I slept in and around a very cold sunup, coffee in hand, turned on the computer. Right at the top of my mail was a short note from a good friend, “RIP, Ken,...Ken slipped away last night.”
….there it is,, go figger.

Adios', my fine Amigo,
...and thanks for swinging by on your way out ! GTC 1/1/2016

Thanks for that Greg. As another once said, "I ain't got the words,".

Thanks Cross, good read and no doubt your old friend stopped by to bid you all a farewell.

Thanks for the tale Amigo. It should grace many a campfire for years to come.

If we were half as sensitive to Spirits as our animals are, the world would be a better place.

They always seem to know, these hounds we keep at our sides.

Man's best friend.
With insights and knowings we'll never understand.

Scratch Gracie's ear for me and give her a good pat.

Thanka to those that have posted some of the pictures...

I feel fortunate to have been at some of those events, and that is where I was able to meet and spend time around Ken...

His humility is still what impressed me the most...


He's not Gone..... He's Just Gone Ahead...

Scouting out the place before the rest of us get there...

We'll each have someone there to show us around the place...

Pretty good picture there, Dave.

That was good.

I gotta read it again.

Well done Greg!!

Thanks for sharing.

Godspeed!

David

Ken liked respectful youngsters enough, that he gave my oldest grandson a Leupold compass and granddaughters a laptop.
He really enjoyed well-behaved kids -
and hugs from the ladies!

Count me among those better off for having cross Ken's orbit a few times. Hope he's enjoying a big juicy backstrap with Mrs. Howell right about now....

I had to laugh as I am pretty sure I had a visit from Ken this morning. My son and I were running errands early this morning. As we were driving my son started to tell me a corney sort of kid joke that required a pen and paper... I was driving and preoccupied. Stephen was bugging me about the joke, and so to keep him busy I suggested he look around the truck for a pen knowing that I don't normally keep any in there. Well sure enough a moment later Stephen lets out a howl "woohoo I got a pen dad!!"
Somehow the boy had managed to find a pen in some dark recess of the center console. He writes what was needed for the corney jokey to work, and we had a chuckle . So I asked to see the pen wondering where it came from. Stephen hands me this nice looking black and chrome pen, and as I turn it in my hands I read:
Kenneth Edgar Howell
Box 28 Church St
Quemado NM
I know our pal was looking down laughing at both the joke and my effort to keep the boy occupied...

Got a few of those pens myself

Thanks, Ken.

Weird but very cool story. I've had events in my life like Crossfire and yourself that can't hardly be explained. I'm sure glad Ken is finally getting the reunion he so deeply desired.

A few more pictures of Ken from some of the Quemado campfires;

From the first one:


Ken and Scott F at the second one


Ken and his old friend Mic McPherson


I could post a bunch more, but you get the picture...

RIP Dr. Howell, I thoroughly enjoyed trying to read your wisdom.

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe —
That's all they is, so let 'em go.
They ain't gonna be no mo'.
Each is a long day's work, y'know!
Gotta be insparred, 'n' so
They ain't gonna be no mo'

By Ken Howell

Many thanks to those who have posted pics. I enjoy seeing them and think that Ken would have liked this thread.

The Flapjack Kid

The ranch boss came out to the bunkhouse late one night,
When it was just about time to blow-out the light.
“Send a couple of men up to the Four-Cross spread
With those saddle broncs in the corral — all ten head.”
But I told him I could handle that chore myself,
And I took my clean Sunday shirt down from the shelf.

The ranch boss said “Well, all right. I guess that’ll do.
But get back by noon. I’ve got some big chores for you.”
Now, the Four-Cross cook was the talk of the county.
Any meal he fed was a wonderful bounty.
They said his new cookshack was downright palatial,
And each dish on the table was something special.

He liked to see hungry men eat all they could take,
But they said he got meaner than a rattlesnake
If you took too much and left food on your platter.
His table was a place to eat, not for chatter.
To be welcome back, you left a smile on his face
(And you left with your own nose and both ears in place).

I left next morning early, while it was still night,
With horses that wanted to play, or stay, or fight.
The sorrel dragged along behind like a caboose,
And one young mare tried to take up with a moose.
I had all I could do to keep ‘em together
And didn’t get a lick of help from the weather.

The wind on the ridge was colder than the devil,
And it blew the rain in my face, hard and level.
But I was dreamin’ about all that good eatin’,
And gettin’ warm, out of the wind that was beatin’
Me back from sourdough buckwheats and blueberry syrup
Just waitin’ for me to step down from the stirrup.

I got there in time and was told to have a seat.
The hands had all et, but there was plenty to eat.
He flopped-down a stack of flapjacks, hot and plenty.
The five in that stack were big enough for twenty.
They filled me up and left no slack in my belly.
Then he flopped down a second stack — and some jelly.

I groaned inside, ‘cause I didn’t feel up to it,
But I knew I had to just dig-in and do it.
I felt good then, but I wouldn’t when I finished.
And I had chores to do, with my strength diminished!
I stuffed my belly, hopin’ it wouldn’t get sore.
And then that cussed cook flopped-down five flapjacks more!

I crammed and I stuffed ‘em down by sheer might and main,
Tryin’ as hard as I could to live with the pain.
I got ‘em all down and was eyin’ that last bite —
Then heard that awful thump and seen that awful sight.
He cried “Now that’s all you get!” (Man, did he look mean!)
“Damn if you ain’t the hongriest hawg I ever seen!”

By Ken Howell

I was literally watching two bucks on a mountain side, sun coming up, I had climbed up the steep slope and set down under a palo verde tree in a saddle, working for a possible archery shot. My phone vibrated and I got the news Ken passed.

It was the right moment and place for all the contemplation.

RIP Ken.

Does anybody have a link to Ken's obit?

Thanks for posting that poem, Kent.

Ken's book is back in print and for sale again.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2016/01/ken-howells-custom-cartridges-book-now-back-in-print/

Mike

Wish I needed to form some cartridges!

Ken has been missed from the 'fire. With almost 30,000 posts, that's a given. On top of that, he took the time to send lots of PMs to many of us to detail matters that were not constructive to the main thread. He knew how to use a forum better than most.

Sympathy to his family and blessings to all who knew him either in person or through various online means. What a man he was!

Steve.