John passed away peacefully at home after a lengthy illness at the age of 84, with his daughters and loving caregivers by his bedside.

He was born in Dennison Iowa to Edmund V. Howorth and Mary C. Howorth. He had four older siblings, Edmund J. Howorth, Robert M. Howorth, Patricia A. Howorth and Mary Jane (Howorth) Allemand. At the age of five the family migrated to Gilroy where he attended Saint Mary's and Gilroy High School where he lettered in football. In his senior year, dressed in his uniform, he weighed a whopping 98 lbs. He graduated in 1948 and started working with his father and brother land leveling on local farms and ranches. At 24 he married and started a family. He was in the business for fifty yrs. and his work can be seen all over from dams in the back country to the Flying Lady golf course, roads, etc. and his work was highly respected by his peers. He worked long hrs. and rarely took a day off. He had a wicked sense of humor and could always make you laugh. When buying a gift for his young nieces and nephews, his only priority was that the gift make lots of noise and therefore drive his sister crazy! He loved playing cards (bridge and pedro) with family and friends. He had a passion for Motocross, Nascar, the Giants and 49er's and loved going with friends and family to the races and games. He enjoyed road trips with family and friends and always managed to find and talk to a fellow traveler from Gilroy. He never met a stranger that wasn't a friend.

In his early 30's he stepped up to help his widowed sister Mary Jane and his six nieces and nephews. He became a surrogate parent and developed very strong bonds with all of them. In the late 70's eary 80's after a number of times watching his daughter Kathy make pies from scratch, he picked up a rolling pin and began his long love affair with making the best apple and lemon meringue pies. He even entered a local apple pie contest sponsored by the Gilroy Tribune and won 1st place. He had always been so proud of his reputation as a great dozer operator but he was every bit as proud of that 1st place pie award. Someone was always stopping by the house to return his pie plates and put in their requests for more.

John spent his later years looking after his brother Bob and his sister Patricia when their health began to fail. He did his best to be there for family and friends. He was a great storyteller and had memorized a number of his favorite poems which he would recite for anyone who would listen. He always had a smile, a cold one, and a can of nuts for anyone who knocked on the door and if it had been raining for days, he would throw you in the truck and off you went on "Creek Patrol." Towards the end of his life, John was unable to speak and I know he would want to tell his family and friends how much he cared about them and thank them for their love, kindness and support during his illness. He would also want to thank his special group of caregivers who have been there day and night for the past three and a half years. For those who talked with John on a regular basis, he had a funny way of saying goodbye and it is time for him to go. So in his own words "Ding How".

John was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, two nieces, one nephew and one granddaughter. He is survived by his daughters Deborah Howorth of Paso Robles, Kathleen (Howorth) Gallivan and husband Mark of Chehalis, WA, eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, one niece and 2 nephews.

The memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday June 17th at Habing Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Parkinson's or Alzheimer's Foundation.