Howard Tawes, 85 a descendant of an early Whatcom County pioneer family, passed away of heart complications on May 6, 2011 in Mount Vernon, WA. Howard was born in Bellingham, WA on July 22, 1925 to Ira and Boletta Tawes and raised on a farm in Ferndale, WA, graduating from Ferndale High School in 1943. Howard married Dolores Lybarger in Bellingham, WA in 1947, and they resided in Ferndale, WA. He was employed by Imhof Feed and later Holeman Transfer until moving to Mount Vernon, WA with his family in 1958. He retired from Fiedler Distributor in 1984. He was Assistant Scout Master for Boy Scouts, Troop 1 in Mount Vernon, WA, member of FOE #1444, Concrete, WA, member of Teamster Union #1788, a charter member of Kiwani's Club of S. Mount Vernon, and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon, WA. His hobbies included gardening, fishing, hunting and reading. We will all miss his wonderful sense of humor. Howard is survived by his wife, Dolores of 63 years, his sister, Dorothy VanEgdom (Lawrence, deceased) of Portland, OR, two children, Marcia (Ray, deceased) Findlay, Lacey, WA and Darrell (Patty) Tawes, Mount Vernon, WA. Grandsons Chris (Andrea) Tawes, Olympia, WA; Ryan (Elizabeth) Findlay, Olympia, WA; Troy (Danielle) Findlay, Lacey, WA; and Shaun (Samantha) Tawes, Mount Vernon, WA. Great-grandchildren Allie Findlay, Sierra and Ryder Findlay, Savannah Tawes plus two nephews and one niece from Oregon. Memorial services will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 1607 Division St, Mount Vernon, WA on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 1607 E. Division St., Mount Vernon, WA 98273, the American Heart Assn., 710 2nd Ave., Ste. 900, Seattle, WA 98101 or a charity of your choice.