- Date Of Birth: January 31, 1978
- Date Of Death: January 31, 2022
- State: Utah
Jason Edmund Howell was born in Salt Lake County, Utah to Edmund and Sandra Howell on January 31, 1978. He and his eternal companion Rebecca van Uitert were killed in a tragic automobile accident while attending a medical conference and vacationing in Hawaii on January 31, 2022.
Jason exuded sunshine. He was happy, kind, funny, and had a huge heart. Jason had a gift to see good in everyone, and to love even when others wouldn’t or couldn’t. Whether he recognized this talent of not, it truly became the foundation for his life’s work. In his youth he had a tender heart and played the role of peacemaker with family, friends, and loved ones. He had the capacity to notice those around him and seemed to always put other’s needs above his own. Jason was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America where he participated in numerous training courses and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Built like a linebacker, he played football at American Fork High School and made athletics and physical activity an important part of his youth and adult life. Activities included participation in several triathlons where he finished high in his weight and age class.
As a 19-year-old, Jason served as a Spanish speaking missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the New York, New York North mission. This experience had a significant impact on him; He developed a love for culture, diversity, and a keen sense for great food from around the world. He enjoyed introducing family and friends to different cuisines and especially loved small family-owned restaurants with authentic cooking. He was notorious for getting to know a little bit about each person he encountered at each restaurant he went to.
Throughout his life, Jason believed in honoring the dignity and worth of all people and went to great lengths to make sure that others had a voice and could receive the help and care he felt that they deserved. In their undergraduate studies, Jason and Rebecca majored in International Law and Diplomacy at Brigham Young University. They were able to develop skills as they learned about complex issues and challenges facing humanity. As part of their schooling, Jason and Rebecca van Uitert attended several Model United Nations conferences in New York City. They both shared the same passion for Latino culture and desired to serve and lift others. These associations led to a friendship and the two were married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple on October 26th, 2002.
Following graduation from BYU and marriage, Jason and Becca made their home in the Queens Borough of New York City where Rebecca was enrolled in Law School. Jason took his first real job in the New York public relations office for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While in New York, Jason was called as the branch president and subsequently as bishop of the Queens Astoria Ward. There the family developed lifelong friends and furthered their love for the city and the people. While in New York, Jason realized public relations was not his life’s calling, so he enrolled at Columbia University to complete the Premed prerequisites which paved the way for application to Medical School. He attended Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago with a dream and a mission to do primary care and possibly public health. He felt that, as a primary care physician, he would have the greatest impact. He stayed true to that mission and focused on developing a meaningful one on one relationship with his patients. This became the hallmark of his practice. While in medical school Jason developed a club to help his fellow classmates learn the Spanish language. He graduated from Medical School with his Medical Degree on June 3rd 2012.
Dr. Howell completed his residency in Chicago and worked at Lutheran General Hospital. It was during this time that he and Becca were able to start the family they had always wanted. They adopted four siblings: Maria, JJ, Manny, and Roxy. These kids became the pride of their lives. On July 22, 2016, they were sealed together as a family in the Salt Lake City Temple. In 2018 Jason accepted employment with Intermountain Healthcare and the family moved to Heber City, Utah to establish their “forever home” where they could raise their family.
Jason and his family loved new adventures and outdoor activities. Together they created fond memories of mountain biking, hiking, exploring the red rocks, and skiing the Utah mountains. They have loved becoming part of the Heber City community where they have continued to actively serve as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
They are lovingly survived by their four children Maria, Jesus Jason, Manuel, and Roxanna. Jason is the son of Edmund and Sandra Howell of Highland Utah and is the brother of John Howell, Jared Howell and Brenda Sheffield. He is also loved and fondly remembered by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
The family request masks be worn, thank you.
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