Donald Howe

FLORENCE - Donald Lee "DJ" Howe, 32, of Florence died of complications from pneumonia on Jan. 25, 2014, at Casa Grande Regional Medical Center.

Visitation will begin at noon Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Florence. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. Another service will be held in Taylor on Saturday, with visitation at 1 and funeral at 2. Burial will be in Reed S. Hatch Memorial Cemetery there.

Mr. Howe was born on Feb. 11, 1981, in Flint, Mich. A "perpetual student," he attended Olivet (Mich.) College, Utah State University, Mesa Community College and received an Associate of Arts degree at Central Arizona College. He was pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Grand Canyon University online.

He worked in construction, was an editor of the CACtus newspaper at CAC, worked with children at Florence Parks and Recreation, for Canteen at a state prison, did standup comedy and improv and worked for the Phoenix Coyotes and Home Depot. His hobbies included hockey, baseball, football and rugby, and he was an avid reader and writer. Considering himself a Libertarian, he enjoyed discussing politics and blogging and aspired to be a comedian.

Survivors include his mother and stepfather, MaryAnn and Nicholas Marquez of Florence; two brothers, Robert Fisher of Mount Morris, Mich., and Sean McKenna of Springerville; and three sisters, Rene Smith of Gaylord, Mich., Faith Marquez of Washington and Joy Marquez of Safford. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald L. Howe Sr.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud Coolidge Chapel is in charge of arrangements.