July 18, 2023-Aug. 9, 2024
Howard Hoggan Putnam left his beloved Pine Valley home on Aug. 9, 2024, surrounded by family and in the middle of a beautiful summer rainstorm.
Howard was born on July 18, 1923, in Woodruff, Utah, to John Melvin and Rosabelle Hoggan Putnam – the fifth of nine children. Following high school graduation, he enlisted in the military and served in England, North Africa and the U.S. during World War II. After the war, he completed an LDS mission to the Eastern States where he taught the gospel and performed in a traveling missionary choir and the Hill Cumorah pageant.
Howard loved to sing beginning with serenading the cows while he milked them. He attended BYU where he received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in music education and met Martine Harris, a beautiful blue-eyed blonde, who rapidly progressed from her status as his accompanist to his fiancé. They were married on Sept. 17, 1951, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together, they reared nine children and served the communities they lived in through their music and love for their Heavenly Father.
Howard and Martine served missions in Nauvoo, Illinois, and in the St. George Family History Center. Following Martine’s death, he married another beautiful, spunky blonde, Mary Esther Gardner Staheli (seven children) on Jan. 5, 1998, in St. George, Utah. Together Howard and Mary Esther traveled, served a mission to Vladivostok Russia, and blessed the lives of all who knew them through their music and kindness.
Howard was a choral professor at Dixie College from 1965-86 and willingly served his community as a St. George City councilman, election judge, county and state delegate, co-director and charter member of the Southwest Symphonic Choir and as conductor of a community chorus. He also accepted and diligently filled various callings in the LDS Church throughout his life.
Howard loved the mountains, hiking and fishing, salt and pepper pistachios and being with family. He was most blessed to be embraced and loved by two wonderful families during his 101 years of mortality. He leaves a legacy of faith, diligent service and love of family that will endure through his posterity.
Waiting to greet him on the other side are his first wife Martine; daughter Marianne Stoddard; son Matthew Putnam; grandchildren Aubry Page and Jeremy Nelson; great-grandsons Jordan Putnam and Joseph Summers; step-son-in-law Josh (Mishaun) Horspool; and his parents and six siblings.
Howard is survived by his wife Mary Esther Putnam and her children Frank (Kara) Staheli, Annette (Curtis) Graff, Matt (Brandee) Staheli, Rod (Janet) Staheli, Nate (Angie) Staheli, Mike (Yarely) Staheli and Mishaun (Josh) Horspool; and by his children Rebecka (Ric) Page, Jon (Maury) Putnam, Jeff (Chris) Putnam, Christine (Gary) Nelson, Joel (Fran) Putnam, Lisa (Mike) Isom, Melvin (Cami) Putnam; daughter-in-law Rachel Webb (Matthew) Putnam; 75 cherished grandchildren and 142 great-grandchildren from both sides; as well as a brother Jack Putnam; a sister Clarine Osborn and a brother-in-law, Brent Harris.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m. at the Winchester Hills Chapel, located at 5338 North Winchester Drive South, St George, Utah.
Visitations will be Friday evening from 5-7 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary located at 288 West St. George Blvd., and Saturday, prior to the services, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the church.
Interment will be in the St. George City Cemetery, 650 East Tabernacle St., St George, Utah.
Those unable to attend are invited to click here to view services online.
Arrangements are under the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. Click here to visit the Metcalf Mortuary website for condolences, complete obituary and funeral listings.