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Earl Howard Halfacre Jr
August 16, 2026
Earl Howard Halfacre Jr. met our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, face to face and entered the gates of Heaven on August 13, 2026, surrounded by love and leaving behind a lifetime of cherished memories.
Earl Howard was a man of deep and unwavering faith. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at a young age, and throughout his life, the fruits of the Spirit could be seen in the way he loved, served, encouraged, and cared for those God placed in his path.
Born and raised in Cantonment, Florida, Earl Howard spent his childhood running the roads of “the Village” alongside his favorite cousins and best friends and playing just about every sport available to him. He was a naturally gifted athlete, and during his years at Tate High School, he competed in football, baseball, basketball, and track and field, earning an impressive eleven varsity letters. One of the highlights of Earl Howard’s young athletic career came in 1959, when he and his best friend, David Patrick, were chosen to play in the Colt Baseball World Series. His team went on to win the championship, and in a moment that surely stayed with him for a lifetime, Earl Howard—playing second base—caught the final out that sealed the victory
After graduating from Tate, Earl Howard attended Pensacola Junior College on a baseball scholarship. After a year of college, he chose to enter the workforce and married his high school sweetheart. Together, they welcomed two beautiful daughters, Karen and Linda.
Years later, Earl Howard’s life took an unexpected and beautiful new turn when he met and married Bobbie Hudson-Halfacre, the love of his life. His daughters were grown, and Earl Howard might have thought his days of raising young children were behind him. Instead, life gave him the opportunity to begin again.
When Earl Howard came into their lives, Amanda was five and Mark was three. He opened his heart to them, helped raise them, and loved and treated them as his own. What could have seemed like starting over became one of the great chapters of his life. He embraced it wholeheartedly.
Earl Howard’s heart extended far beyond his own family. Throughout his life, he spent countless hours coaching, teaching, encouraging, and mentoring young athletes. For him, coaching was never only about winning games. It was an opportunity to invest in young people, to teach them discipline and perseverance, to encourage them, and to help them become better both on and off the field.
Over the years, Earl Howard had the privilege of coaching football, basketball, and baseball, from Little League through the high school level. He served as an assistant varsity football and baseball coach at Vernon High School, an assistant varsity football coach at Ridge Community High School, and an assistant varsity basketball coach at The Vanguard School. Wherever he coached, Earl Howard brought with him his love of sports, his competitive spirit, and, most importantly, his genuine love for the young people entrusted with his care.
If you knew Earl Howard, you knew there were three things especially close to his heart: God, family, and the Florida Gators. His faith came first, his family was his greatest earthly treasure, and somewhere not too far behind were his beloved Gators.
If there was a Florida Gators sporting event on television, chances were Earl Howard was watching. It didn’t matter if it was football, baseball, basketball, or even girls’ softball—if the Gators were playing, he was cheering them on.
Softball, however, held a particularly special place in his heart. Long before girls’ athletics had many of the opportunities they have today, Earl Howard, along with Sonny Wise, established and coached the first girls’ softball league in Cantonment, Florida. It was another reflection of who he was. When he saw an opportunity for young people to play, grow, compete, and belong, he didn’t simply stand on the sidelines—he stepped forward and helped make it happen.
That was Earl Howard. Whether it was his family, an athlete he was coaching, or a young person who simply needed someone to believe in them, he gave his time, his encouragement, and his heart. The scoreboard may have mattered while the game was being played, but the lives he touched mattered far more.
Earl Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Earl Howard Halfacre Sr. and Beatrice Halfacre; his dearly loved brother, Eddie Halfacre; his niece, Becky Halfacre; and several of his closest friends and lifelong buddies who went before him. We can only imagine the joyful reunion that awaited him in Heaven.
Left to cherish his memory and carry forward the love, faith, laughter, and lessons he gave so freely are his beloved wife of 40 years, Bobbie Hudson-Halfacre; his children, Karen Hatcher (Larry), and Linda Tatum (Andy), Amanda Rogers (Russ), Mark Barraclough (Hannah) and special nephew he loved like a son, Donald Troy (Chania). He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Justin Hatcher (Lindsey), Kaitlyn Smith (Austin), Jarred Tatum, Brandon Tatum, Kayla Tatum, Tripp Barraclough, Aryn Rogers, Cheyenne Barraclough, and Roman Barraclough; and his bonus grandchildren, Gunter Rogers (Rachel) and Garrett Rogers (Sabrina).
Earl Howard’s legacy continues through his great-grandchildren, his extended family, his beloved cousins, the countless athletes he coached and mentored over the years, and the many friends whose lives were made better simply because Earl Howard was a part of them.
While those who loved him will deeply feel his absence, there is comfort in knowing that Earl Howard’s story did not end here. The faith he carried throughout his life became sight as he entered the presence of the Savior. And the greatest pieces of the man he was—his faith, his love for family, his generosity, his lessons, and his love for the Florida Gators—will live on in all of us who were blessed enough to call him husband, Dad, Pearl, Paw Paw, The Mess, Earlvis, family, coach, and friend.
The Halfacre family would like to recognize and extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following individuals and care teams who provided such loving care and support to Earl Howard.
A special thank you to his nephew, Marshall Nance, who has devoted so much of his time over the past year to helping care for Earl Howard. Your love, dedication, and support have meant more to our family than words can express.
We would also like to thank Emerald Coast Hospice for being an incredible source of comfort, guidance, and support during this difficult time. Your compassion and kindness brought reassurance when it was needed most.
Finally, our deepest appreciation goes to the Baptist care team, who went above and beyond to ensure Earl Howard was cared for with dignity, compassion, and tenderness. Your dedication helped provide him with peace and comfort, while giving our family the certainty of knowing he was in caring hands.
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