Tributes to popular Worsthorne shopkeeper

7:25pm Thursday 24th April 2008

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THE family of a popular Burnley shop owner who died of a suspected heart attack have spoken of their grief.

Dennis Howard, 65, who owned Worsthorne Village Shop for 20 years, died on Wednesday morning.

Mr Howard, of Higgins Street, Worsthorne, had lived in the Burnley area all his life and had suffered from heart problems and minor strokes for the past few years.

Father-of-three and grandfather-of-two, Mr Howard spent his free time helping out Fresh Fields Enterprises Ltd, a charity set up to help adults with learning disabilities.

He had previously worked as a rubber cutter at Lambert Howarth in Healeywood Road, Burnley.

His wife Norma said: "Dennis lived for the shop and died for the shop. He loved talking to customers, he always had a tale to tell.

"He was also a real family man. He loved his children and his grandchildren dearly.

"When he wasn't working he would be attending meetings for Fresh Field, a charity he helped to set up to help adults with learning difficulties.

"He set up the charity because our son Jason has learning difficulties and there were no local charities to help people suffering from similar problems.

"He actually attended his last meeting there just on Tuesday.

"Dennis was very selfless and cheerful man and we will miss him greatly."

He leaves three children, Michelle Crabtree, 40, Beverley Howard, 43, and Jason Howard, 37, and two grandchildren, Thomas, 15, and Niamh, eight.

His funeral will take place at Burnley Cemetery on Thursday May 1 at 12pm. His family have asked that donations should be given to Fresh Field instead of flowers.

Money can be donated to them through Alderson & Horan on 01282 427483.