Remembering Ray Fred Earley, by Beverly Earley
It’s time to celebrate my dad, Fred Earley. He was born in Lander, Wyoming to the parents of Alberta Alice & Ray George Earley, and passed away at the age of 91 on January 24, 2023.
He graduated from the University of Wyoming with his Bachelors in business and a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Dad was president of the Glendale Community Club and a longtime member of the Purchasing Association of Colorado.
My parents met in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was stationed at Ft. Carson and my mom was teaching at Helen Hunt Elementary School. They married on January 28, 1956.
He was a character! He loved his jokes and puns. He continually played with words to look for their fun in making a laugh. He always said that life was too short to be grumpy, which is how he lived his life. Daddy never complained, he voiced concerns, yet didn’t complain.
He loved his career in purchasing. He so enjoyed getting bids, analyzing the products and getting the best product for the best price. He worked at Celebrity Sports Center, then retired from Littleton School District.
He was an amazing Dad! He taught my brother songs and sayings that we’ll never forget. He made us an ice rink in the back yard for about three years in a row while the cold weather could sustain it and he could keep watering it at midnight.
Daddy participated consistently with my brother in Boy Scouts and tutored me in Algebra. For several years he made a spooky house out of our garage for my Blue Bird Troop’s Halloween party.
We did get to experience the, “Let’s cut down our own Christmas tree,” idea. Thankfully that only occurred once and can laugh about it now!
As the parent of adult children, he was always there for my brother and I. Many of us know, once a parent, always a parent, and mine carried that throughout our lives on earth. We are thankful that our dad is in his new home with Jesus, no longer in pain, and dancing again with our mom!
My Brother and I felt Team PHenomenal Hope’s Meaghan Michelle Hicks Fund for Unmet Needs was appropriate for donations in lieu of flowers to support an organization that does phenomenal work for people who live with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Both my dad and mom had PH, as do I.
You may make your donation in honor of my dad here. Thank you for your support
Dear Beverly, What a wonderful tribute to your Dad. My condolences to you and your brother.
That was beautiful Bevie. I love you and I loved both of your folks. You will always have these wonderful memories. Love, Terri