Howard Dean Morehart lost his long battle with a myriad of health issues Wednesday, February 28, 2018, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Dean was born April 20, 1932, to Louis Winfield Morehart and Frances Eva (Morehart) Bodger on South I Street in Lompoc.  He attended local schools and graduated in 1950 from Lompoc High School.  He attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and later he honorably served in the United States Navy.  Returning to Lompoc, he was a graduate of Allan Hancock College in 1957.  In June 1957, Dean and Cecelia (Liz) Wuest were married in St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Lompoc, and later moved to the Bay Area where Dean continued his education at UC Berkeley.

Dean and Liz decided to return to Lompoc, where he eventually was employed by Johns-Manville Corporation where he retired after 38 years.  He was also a long-time employee at Jansson's Liquors.

Dean enjoyed a long and active life – from hunting and fishing to scuba diving and backpacking in the Sierras.  He coached many of his sons' basketball teams and was actively involved in his daughter Lauren's softball activities.  He was truly an outdoorsman.

Dean is survived by his wife Cecelia (Liz) Wuest Morehart.  They would have been married 61 years in June.  His family includes son Mark (Terry) of Dickson, Tennessee, daughter Lauren Morehart McPhate of Granbury, Texas, son Todd of Lompoc, and son Paul (Nancy) also of Lompoc.  Sister Beverly Preece, brother Mike Bodger, sister Bonnie Bodger Saul, thirteen grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews also survive him.  Dean was preceded in death by our young son, Scott Dean, and his mother and father, Frances and Charles Bodger.

A celebration of Dean's life will be Saturday, March 10, 2018, from 1 pm to 4 pm at Dick DeWees Community & Senior Center, 1120 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lompoc Valley Historical Society, P. O. Box 88, Lompoc, CA 93438.