In Rochester, Mike was born on February 28 , 1958.  He was a treasured son of Carl R. and Barbara Ann Floyd Howard.  Growing up he shared his childhood with three brothers Rick, Tim and Todd and two sisters Teresa and Christina.  During his formative years he attended the Mentone, Talma and North Miami Schools.

A lifetime resident of Rochester and northern Miami County, Mike enjoyed taking walks around town, supervising the city's progress and talking with friends catching up on the latest.  Gifted with his hands he spent many hours tinkering on cars and trucks in his garage employing his skills as an automotive mechanic.  He loved to scrap and play scratch off lottery tickets, once hitting a big jackpot!  The weekends brought on his passion for speed and heading to the dirt tracks around the area.  Mike was seated in the bleachers cheering for his favorite drivers at Plymouth, New Paris, Kokomo and South Bend Speedways.

Left to cherish Mike's memory are his daughters Bri Lynn Howard of Barto, Florida and Kariann Howard of Tampa, Florida; four grandchildren: Mary, Tamya, Jackson and Gavin;  his father: Carl R. Howard of Macy;  three brothers: Rick Howard (Rebecca) of Rochester, Tim Howard  (Betty) of Tippecanoe, Todd Howard (Deb) Rochester; two sisters: Teresa Freidman of Jasper, and Christina Miller and companion Rodney Talbott of Rochester.

Preceding Mike in death is his mother Barbara DePoy on January 20 , 2014.