Howard "Sandy" Huff

A visitation for Howard Sanford Huff (“Sandy” to close friends and family) will be held from 1-8 p.m,  Friday,  August 5, 2022 at the MMS-Payne Funeral Home with the family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date.

Howard Sanford Huff passed away on August 1st, 2022 at the age of 79.

The son of Howard and Hazel (Howard) Huff was born in Hamilton, Ohio on September 29th, 1942. He would spend his childhood there until the age of nine. At that time, he and his family moved to Oklahoma, settling in Claremore. Over the next several years he would attend Claremore Public Schools. He then moved with his family to Tulsa at age 16, and transferred to Will Rogers High School. He would graduate there as a member of the class of 1960. Wanting to continue his education, Howard began attending Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. However after a year there, he decided to join the United States Armed Forces, and later the Oklahoma Army National Guard. He later returned to college, attending Oklahoma State University, and then graduated from Central State University with a bachelors degree in business, with a minor in accounting. With his degree in hand, Howard began his first job working for Amoco Petroleum. After a few years, Howard decided it was time for a change. He had heard through a friend of a respiratory therapy program beginning at Tulsa Junior College.  He would later become one of the first six students to complete the program. It was also during this time, while working part time at Hillcrest Hospital, that he would meet Bobbie Queen. They would begin dating, and married on December 31, 1971. Over the next several years Howard would work for St. John, then St. Francis hospitals as a respiratory therapist.  While there he was promoted to Chief of Respiratory Therapy. He was then recruited for a job working for Glasrock Home Health Care Company. A few months later he proposed to the board of St. Francis Hospital to start their own medical supply company, which would become Saint Francis Home Medical Equipment, a service of Medi Share. Howard rejoined his old employer as president of Medi Share, and helped the company become what it is today, now known as All Saints. He would retire from there in 2001.

Howard had many hobbies and past times that he enjoyed. He had a love for traveling, and he and Bobbie were able to travel to all 50 states, Mexico, and Canada, visiting the majority of them in their RV. They then took their adventures to Europe, where they would visit 13 different countries. When he wasn't traveling, his passion was rebuilding cars and motorcycles.  Corvettes were his favorite car; he owned at least one the entire time he and Bobbie were married, and was a long standing member of the National Corvette Restorers Society. In fact, at one time he had collected so many that he had to rent another location just to store them. Harley Davidsons were his favorite motorcycles, and he thoroughly enjoyed many motorcycle trips across the country with his friends. Those times when Howard would relax, he found time to study about America’s past wars, and his knowledge of American wars and other historical facts was remarkable. He also enjoyed all types of music, but the Blues were his favorite, and he was once a member of the Blues Society of Tulsa.

Howard was known by many as a true friend. He was very quick witted and was always making people laugh. He was the one who everyone could count on. Many friends have described him as one that God broke the mold with. People would hear his distinct voice and laugh and know it was him before even seeing him. He loved to laugh, and loved a good joke. He would crack himself up to the point where you couldn't’t even understand what he was trying to say through the laughter. He had many long lasting friendships.  The Wednesday night dinner group was started with three couples going out together once a year, but grew to more than 20 people going out to dinner every Wednesday night.

He was so very proud of his children and grandchildren and all of their accomplishments. He loved them all very much.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Hazel Huff; and sister, Jo Myers.

Survivors include his wife Bobbie;  children, Jenni Friederich and husband Jason, and Scott Huff; grandchildren, Laura and Alex Friederich; sister, Kay Ingersoll; nieces, Joleta Ingersoll, and Wendy Keener and husband Dee; nephews, Jim Myers and wife Sarah, and Jeff Myers and wife Gina, along with many other extended family.

View and sign Howard's online memorial at www.mmsfuneralhomes.com .