Howard Leland Barkley was born June 1, 1923 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to George and Luella Barkley. He was the eighth and youngest child born into a blended family with four older brothers and three older sisters. His father was a well-known stockman raising prize cattle and hogs, but following a tornado and health issues, the farm was sold and the family moved to Oregon in 1926 when Howard was three. They eventually settled in Forest Grove on a dairy farm where he spent all his growing-up years. During his school days, he was active in 4-H, FFA, and Men’s Glee Club at Forest Grove High School. Howard graduated in 1941 and began studies at Pacific University that fall.

Howard’s father George passed away October of 1941, and the United States entered WWII following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 – these events changed the course of Howard’s life. He married his high school girlfriend in 1942 and then joined the Coast Guard later that year. The marriage did not last and they divorced while he was in the service. He was stationed as a cook on the Patrol Frigate Coronado and served in the South Pacific until 1945 at the wars end.

Following the war, he made his way to New Orleans, LA, earned his private pilot’s license, and landed a job as a waiter at the private Beverly Country Club, which turned out to be owned by Mafia Dons. Through a good friend and co-worker, he met and married Norma Anglade on May 30, 1948. They moved to Oregon in 1950 and settled in Forest Grove. They raised three children, Craig, Cathleen, and Stephen. Those years included camping trips to the coast and around Oregon, visits to New Orleans, active as a member of the Elks Lodge, and taking care of the family home on south Main St. originally built and owned in 1916 by William McCready of McCready Timber Co. During this time Howard was employed by Arrow Meat Co in Cornelius, and then Santry Trucking in Tigard. He remained with Santry until his retirement in the 1980’s.

Following Howard and Norma’s divorce in 1976, he married Evelyn Kinnan February 14, 1977 and moved to SE Portland where they lived until her passing in July of 1979.

He was introduced to his long-time partner Martha Forrester following Evelyn’s death. Howard and Martha enjoyed their retirement years together travelling to China, Europe, various cruises with his brother George and girlfriend Sue, and RVing in their 5^th-wheel trailer with a group called the Hitchhikers. During this time, they relocated across the river to Vancouver, WA. Following Martha’s passing in 2006, Howard remained in Vancouver until health issues led to a move back to Gresham in January of 2018 where he lived until his death on May 30, 2019, just two days before his 96^th birthday.

Howard never met a stranger. He was a friend to anyone he met, loved to chat and share a joke or one of his many stories he had from his many years of life experiences, and was always ready to lend a helping hand. He particularly enjoyed sharing with any who cared to know, “…what really chaps my hide!” He was a gentleman through and through. Family also referred to him as the “dog-whisperer” – from his first dog Laddie, a collie on the family farm, to Baby that his son Craig rescued for him, there has never been a pup that didn’t love him. He had a love/hate relationship with his old flip phone—frustrated that he couldn’t always make it do what he wanted, but thankful for it to be able to keep in touch with his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends far and near.

Howard leaves behind his son Stephen and wife Linda of Gresham, daughter Cathy and husband Steve of Redmond, eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and nine nieces and nephews. Many of these were with him as he sailed across the bar his final time. Fair winds and following seas Coastie, Pops & Daddy, Grandpa, Uncle and friend….you will always be loved and remembered by all til we meet again on that far shore.