Ian James Howells

In Loving Memory

1982-2025

Ian James Howells was born to James and Jeanine Howells in Cedar City, Utah. Later they welcomed his brother, Colin, completing their loving family.

From an early age, Ian’s family spent quality time together outdoors through camping and desert river trips, skiing and snowboarding, and summer visits to see family on the Maine coast. He played Little League, enjoyed exploring and skateboarding with his brother and friends, attended youth group, earned the Eagle Scout award, and was a record-breaking swimmer at Cedar High School, graduating in 2000.

Ian attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, earning a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science in 2004. He served as a Resident Assistant, competed with a cycling club – logging many joyful miles around the foothills – and through the campus Navigators ministry, became a follower of Jesus, a decision that shaped the rest of his life.

Because of the Navigators, Ian worked at Eagle Lake Camp in the summer of 2003, where he met his future wife and love, Camille Williams, while both served as camp counselors. After three summers on staff together, they were married on April 22, 2006. Their children and niece recently attended Eagle Lake together, bringing full-circle joy.

The couple began their life together in Colorado Springs, where Ian returned to school to earn a B.S.N. in Nursing from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, followed later by a Masters in Healthcare Administration. After a return to Fort Collins, they settled in the Denver area in 2008.

Ian began his career at Rose Medical Center where he worked in both direct patient care and leadership roles. In 2018, he joined Intermountain Health, leading clinical performance improvement initiatives and programs. Outside of work, he volunteered with an organization to improve systems and patient outcomes. Over his 18-year career, Ian built high-performing teams, touched countless lives, and was admired for his excellence, growth mindset, kindness, and heart for people. Many of his colleagues became dear friends.

Ian had a wild, adventurous soul. He was especially fond of what he called “type 2 fun” – the kind that’s not fun in the moment, tests your limits, and hurts a little, but makes for the best stories later. God’s creation fed his spirit and he loved being in the mountains, including serving as a volunteer ski patroller at A-Basin for four years. He enjoyed live music, wrenching on bikes in the garage, Mexican food, and hosting family and friends – especially the Christmas posole feast he and Camille held each year.

When you were with Ian, you felt like you belonged. He was an easy person to be around and a trusted friend to friends and family alike. His heart lit up on annual “Dad Legs” mountain bike trips with close buddies, in laughter, and mutual encouragement while riding singletrack, skinning up mountains, or on long-distance calls with friends. He cherished his talented and witty little brother Colin and admired his parents, with whom he had a close relationship. He loved watching them be Grandpa and Grandma. He treasured his big family of in-laws-turned-best-friends in the Denver area. Raising families together was among his richest blessings. He was the “big brother” of the group and an attentive uncle – steady, helpful, playful, and adored.

Above all, Ian’s priority was being a husband and father. He and Camille welcomed their daughter Mae in 2014 and their son Henry in 2016. Ian delighted in being a family – nurturing his babies, reading books together, cheering at their games, being in church, watching Broncos games, whipping up breakfast burritos on demand, planning adventures big and small, and giving the kids nightly piggy back rides to bed. He prayed for his children, spurred them toward wisdom, grit, and kindness, and poured his heart into their growth. Maisie-girl (“Buggy”) and Hank (“Big Man”) were his pride and joy, and his deep love for them will endure forever.

Ian is survived by his wife of nearly 20 years, Camille; his children Mae and Henry; parents Jim and Jeanine Howells; brother Colin Howells; parents-in-law, Lance and Colleen Williams; siblings-in-law and nieces and nephew, Joanna Williams, Luke and Lindsay Williams (Ezra and Isabella), Micah and Meghan Williams (Anabel and Sylvia); and many special aunts, uncles, and cousins back east.

We’re heartbroken by his loss, but infinitely grateful for his life.