Donald Fraser

Donald "Don" Hugh Fraser passed away peacefully at the home of his daughter in Alpine, Utah, on April 28, 2017, with many of his family members present. Don was born July 14, 1934, in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the son of Hugh Hyndman Fraser and Mary Robertson Watt who immigrated to Canada from their homeland of Scotland.

His childhood was one of many transitions. He attended numerous schools in Southern California, as well as a short attendance at Hurricane High School in Hurricane, Utah, and Provo High School in Provo, Utah. He graduated from Eagle Rock High School in Southern California. Don also attended BYU, Occidental City College, Pasadena City College, University of Utah and Weber State College. He believed in the importance of lifelong learning and delighted in reading his morning newspaper everyday while shaving with his electric razor.

Don's natural abilities as an athlete and his easy going yet determined personality helped him transition between the twists and turns of his childhood and early adult life. He used his 6’4” stature and size 14 feet to his advantage on the football field, basketball court, racquetball court, and tennis court. He played football for BYU and basketball for Occidental City College. Don was a member of the “Nooners” club at the downtown Deseret Gym in Salt Lake City for many years. He always had a gym membership wherever he lived and enjoyed socializing while attempting to bench press the full stack of weights. Don’s little piece of heaven was when he was pushing himself to his physical limits while drenched with sweat. At the age of 65, Don’s basketball team won the gold medal in the Huntsman Senior Olympic Games in St. George, Utah. In his later years, Don discovered the wonderful sport of pickleball before people really knew about it. He was a regular at the Hurricane City pickleball courts showing the younger crowd how it’s done. He was still body surfing and swinging his pickleball paddle at the age of 80.

Don met his wife, Janet Burton, at a swimming party while both were living in Southern California. He tossed her in the pool but she couldn’t swim so he had to save her. The rest is history. Don and Janet were married in 1956 at Memory Grove Park, Salt Lake City, Utah, and later solemnized their marriage in the Los Angeles Temple in 1959. Their whirlwind romance and subsequent 60+ year marriage, as well as the births of five daughters and one son has been what Don considers his greatest success and enjoyment in life. 

Don became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shortly before his marriage to Janet and was thrilled with the possibility of becoming an eternal family. He embraced his membership in the church with enthusiasm and joy. Don loved teaching the gospel to the youth of the church in the seminary program and serving a Stake Mission. He enjoyed discussions about religion and liked to make people “think” as a Gospel Doctrine teacher. He also enjoyed serving in a Dixie College student ward in St. George, Utah. Don shared his enthusiasm for life with all those he encountered and was often heard saying, “It doesn't get any better than this!" He loved the ocean and boating and never passed up the opportunity to teach someone how to body surf or water-ski.

Don provided for his family as a Pharmaceutical Representative for Merrell National Labs. Later, he changed careers and became a successful Real Estate Agent in the Salt Lake, Las Vegas and Southern Utah areas. At the height of his career, he achieved the top award in the state of Utah earning the title “Million Dollar Man.” Don enjoyed helping others and was always excited to see families realize the dream of purchasing a home. Don served eight years on the Nevada Board of Realtors ending his career as a realtor at the age of 78. Through it all, Don was often found on the court playing a mean game of basketball or refereeing for local high school basketball teams.

Don is survived by his wife, Janet Burton Fraser, daughters, Debbie (Neil) Clifford of Timber Lakes, Utah, Susie (Jim) Barlow of Henderson, Nevada, Cathy (Don) Mickelsen of Menan, Idaho, Cindy (Todd) Leishman of Alpine, Utah, Son, Steven (Jill) of Bloomington, Utah, twenty two grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and his brother, Stuart (Ginny) Fraser of Telluride, Colorado. Don was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter (Christine) and two great grandchildren.

In the last weeks of Don’s life, he was surrounded by compassionate and loving people while suffering with dementia. Thank you to our supportive hospice team and wonderful family. His dear wife Janet, stayed by Don’s side through thick and thin 24/7 to the very end. She will miss him greatly but knows their love is eternal.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 12 p.m. at the Village Way LDS Chapel, 901 E. Village Way, Alpine, Utah. Visitation will be from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. prior to services at the chapel. Interment will follow in the Alpine City Cemetery.  
 

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