MISSOULA, MT – Colbert Page Howell, Sr. lost his year and a half battle with pancreatic cancer on November 19, 2016, surrounded by his family.

A resident of Missoula since 1997, Colbert and his wife Barbara owned and managed Flying H Stables on Mullan Road. Colbert was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons Lodge 13 and the Western Montana Shrine Club.

Born January 4, 1941, in Mapleton, North Carolina, Colbert graduated from North Carolina State University in 1964 with a degree in Industrial Arts. He taught high school woodworking at Needham B. Broughton High School in Raleigh from 1964 until 1968 when he became a full-time professional wedding and portrait photographer. From 1960 until his retirement from photography in 1997, Colbert photographed thousands of weddings in Raleigh and central North Carolina. He served as president of the Professional Photographers of North Carolina, the American Society of Photographers, and the Professional Photographers of America.

Retiring to Missoula in 1997, Colbert raised hay, ran a saw mill, and fixed ranch equipment for his and his wife’s horse ranch.

He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Barbara J. Howell; his daughter, Jennifer Howell Morgan (Michael) of New Orleans, LA; son, Colbert Page Howell, Jr. (Stacy) of Vero Beach, FL; sister, Peggy Wyatt (Julian) of Raleigh, NC; grandsons, Dylan and Dalton Morgan of New Orleans, LA; step-grandson, Zachary Holder of Vero Beach, FL; niece, Kelly Peterson of Greensboro, NC; and great niece and nephew, Margaret Ann and Wyatt Peterson of Greensboro, NC.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Euclid Nelson and Ethel Margaret Howell of Murfreesboro, NC.

A celebration of his life was held at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home in Missoula, MT on Nov. 21, 2016.

Condolences for his family may be left at www.sunsetfuneralhomecemetery.com