By Andrea Salazar
The Eagle
LEON COUNTY, Texas — A Leon County paramedic, who died of an apparent heart attack while on duty, had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of his first grandchild.
Mike Howard, a medic with Jewett EMS and adjunct instructor for TEEX, was pronounced dead at St. Joseph hospital Saturday morning in Madisonville. He had been responding to a 911 call at about 6 a.m. when he collapsed, said Jewett EMS Director of Operations Weslie Collins.
A visitation has been scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Groesbeck Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church of Groesbeck with burial to follow at Kosse City Cemetery.
Collins described Howard as “a joker” who liked to pull harmless pranks but who was very dedicated to his job.
“It’s a big void to fill,” Collins said of Howard, who managed the education program at the department and served as a shift supervisor.
Howard trained as a firefighter while in the Navy and volunteered with the Kosse Volunteer Fire Department when he was discharged, according to his obituary.
His 22 years in emergency medical services took him from the Mexia Fire Department to Limestone Medical Center and Teague EMS before joining Jewett EMS in 2007.
“Serving the public and helping his fellow man was Mike’s primary goal in life,” family said in his obituary.
First responders from across the state will guard Howard’s casket through Friday when he is buried in his hometown.
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©2014 The Eagle (Bryan, Texas)