1923 ~ 2017
Lawrence Frear, known to friends as "Wally" and to loved ones as Dad, Grandpa and "Sweetheart," passed on peacefully Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. He was 93 years old.
Born on Dec. 1, 1923 to James William and Josephine Frear, Wally was raised with ten siblings in Murray, UT and lived in the Murray/Sandy area his whole life.
Wally married his sweetheart, Verdonna, on November 15, 1941, and together they raised two children, Larry and Diann, in the house he cherished for more than 70 years. There Wally built his beloved wood and metalworking shop, his garden, and a home with his precious family -- the places where Wally found his joy.
Wally enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1945 and worked as a machinist off the Coast of San Diego. He came home and began in the same role at Christensen Diamond Products, where he went on to patent drill bits and downhole drilling equipment, supervise a team of 120, and travel Europe working with the international diamond industry. After 40 years at Christensen, he founded his own company -- Altamont Oil and Mining Tool Company -- at which he worked tirelessly well into his 80s
Wally was an artist and a maker, creating beautiful things out of wood or on canvas all the way into his early 90s. He spent 20 years building a fully-functioning locomotive, five-feet long and built of solid steel. His letters, drawings and poems reflected years of experience in love loss, politics, war and celebration. He could tell a joke that would put a smile on every face in the room. Many times starting with "two guys walked into a bar" and would be different each time. He could grow a tomato that would make a grown man cry.
Wally loved being in the outdoors, fishing and taking in the scenery of the Uintas that inspired many of his paintings. There was nothing he couldn't repair or build, from an antique car, to a plane, to the inner workings of a clock. He would fix something almost daily for a friend or a neighbor without ever asking for a cent in return. His generosity was exceeded only by his brilliance, both of which he showed in spades.
Wally is survived by his daughter, Jeanette Diann McDonald, and her husband Mike; his son, Larry Frear, and his wife Joi; four grandchildren, Kimberly McDonald (Kevin), Danielle Stewart (Joel), Nicole Frear Green (Donnie), Noelle Frear Green (Randy), Taylor Frear, Macael Ivie, Erin Ivie (Sean) and seven beautiful great-grandchildren. His warm and loving heart will be missed by all who knew him, and his loved ones know he's up there dancing with his sweetheart now.
Wally's family would like to recognize Cottonwood Place and Brighton Hospice, his wonderful caregivers and second family of 2 ½ years. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that all donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association of America. Contributions can be made in Wally's name via credit card at 1-866-232-8484; or sent via check to The Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th fl., New York, NY 10001.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 27, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. at Goff Mortuary, 8090 South State Street, Midvale, Utah. Viewing prior from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Interment, Sandy City Cemetery.
www.goffmortuary.com