Raymond E. “Eddie” Howard

Born:          November 16, 1931

Died:          August 1, 2022

Eddie Howard, 90, formerly of Colorado Springs passed away Monday, August 1, 2022.

He is proceeded in death by his wife Verna, son Ray, daughter Debbie and her husband Mac, grandson Trevor, great grandson Raymond, 5 brothers and 3 sisters.  Survivors include his daughter Pam, sons Mark and Michael, 8 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and several nieces.

Eddie was born November 16, 1931, in Chandler, Oklahoma. After the death of his father, he started working in the restaurant industry at age 12.

He met his wife Verna while living and working in Dodge City, Kansas where they married and operated their first restaurant. Soon they moved to Manitou Springs with three kids and one in the oven and purchased the “Garden Lane” restaurant.

His entrepreneurial dreams got bigger as the family grew. In addition to the “Garden Lane”, he developed, owned and operated two “Howard’s Hallmark” gift stores and soon built the “Howard’s Beef’n Burger” restaurant.  

In 1971 he embarked on his biggest dream to date and built “Howard’s Castaways Restaurant”  across the street from the “Garden Lane”. Working  together with his wife Verna and all 5 kids,  the restaurant and live music venue was a smashing success and had a 45-year run featuring world class entertainment with music legends such as Stan Kenton, Glenn Yarbrough and Ray Charles.  Adding to this success, he built the “Atlantis Restaurant” and “Fast Eddies” night club.

After retiring for several years, his ambitious spirit took hold again and in 1997 he built and operated the “Castaways Inn and Suites” at the “Castaways” restaurant in Manitou Springs until his final retirement in 2016.

He lived the final years of his life happily at his country home in Elizabeth, Colorado with lots of family and friends in the mix

There will be no services per his wishes. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.