Earl Howlett Bohannon was born September 29, 1925, to Earl Hudson Bohannon and Ruby Howlett Bohannon while they were in Poteau, Okla. Earl's parents soon returned to the area of their own birth, Richland and Waynesville where Earl grew up. There he was surrounded by extended family and small town life. His childhood was one of hard work for his father and family, as well as daring and sometimes dangerous play. Listening to his many stories of his feats and misadventures, his own children often marveled at the fact that he survived into adulthood.Earl attended Richland High School, however he graduated from George Washington HS in Los Angeles, since his family moved there to work in the shipyards and support the war effort. He served on the USS Sea Leopard based in San Diego.Once discharged from the Navy at Key West, Fla., he made his way home to Missouri on a motorcycle (his first of many). There he found the girl of his heart, Velma Robinson, teaching school. He sold his motorcycle to keep her safe and soon married her on January 1, 1947. Earl studied electronics at a National Trade School specializing in radio. The Navy called him back into service on an ice breaker, the USN Burton Island during the Korean War.Earl and Velma raised their family, Richard Earl, born in 1948, William Keith, born in 1949, and Rebecca Lynne, born in 1957. In 1970 Hughes Aircraft moved them to Denver, Colo. Earl and Velma soon found land and built their home on it where they both remained for the rest of their lives.Earl continued daring feats all through his life, driving his motorcycle over 100 mph, boating, water skiing, hunting, fishing, traveling, climbing trees to cut off limbs, climbing and rappelling off the huge "golf balls" that enclosed radar equipment for Hughes Aircraft in Aurora, Calif. Possibly one of his greatest adventures was his dip into local politics by helping to form the town of Foxfield, Colo., where he served on the town council for many years.Earl is survived by his half-sister, Elizabeth; his three children; seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.Earl and Velma maintained a close connection to their family and friends in Richland. They frequently visited their home town, particularly for their high school reunions.Mr. Bohannon passed away May 26, 2006. A memorial service for Earl was held in Englewood, Colo., on May 31, 2006. The cremated remains of both Earl and his wife Velma – who passed away Feb. 8, 2004 – will be interred in the Oaklawn Cemetery in Richland on June 11, 2006, with Pryor Ray Prewett officiating.