Obituary of Charles FRASER

CHARLIE FRASER Passed from this earth on 8/11/2011 Charles Duncan Fraser was born August 22, 1934 in Missoula, Montana to Archie and Dorothy Fraser, the third of four children and the only boy. He grew up near the tiny town of Hall, Montana where his father had a small ranch. Charlie grew up ranching logging, hunting and fishing. His father taught him to build and repair almost anything which in those days, living so far from a city and stores was a necessity. That knowledge led to a lifetime love of tinkering and that in turn led to his obtaining two patents for his inventions. He became a pilot while quite young. His love for aviation led to his buying an airplane before he ever bought a car. He sold the plane when he entered the military. He served in the United States Army out of Fort Riley, Kansas and after his honorable discharge he went to college, graduating from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. His working career was spent as an engineer with Mountain Bell (later U.S. West) in Montana and Colorado. One of his many accomplishments was designing fiber optic cables. In 1988 he married his sweetheart Margie. The following year he retired from the telephone company in Denver, and they moved back up to Montana. They bought a beautiful piece of land overlooking Flathead Lake where they built the dream house that they designed. He did most of the building and finishing work himself After the house was finished, restlessness set in and they sold the home, bought an RV and went traveling around the country for the next two years. They fell in love with Havasu and settled down here in 1997. He loved spending his days tinkering in his workshop when he and Margie weren't out on the water fishing. The past several years he kept busy designing, building, and flying radio-control airplanes. He met a group of like-minded fellows doing the same thing, and they had a comfortable friendship with one another for several years, getting together many mornings at Windsor 4 at the state park to fly their RC planes. He was a lifetime member of the local BPOE and until his last illness he was an active member of the Elks Fishing Club. Charlie was predeceased by his parents and two older sisters. He is survived by his beloved wife Margie; his dear sister and brother-in-law Betty and Dean Bivins of Anchorage AK; his son and daughter-in-law Craig and Jill Fraser of Evergreen, CO; his daughter Kris; step children Kathie, Rob, and Jana; grandchildren, nieces, nephews, his flying and fishing buddies and many other friends. Charlie was a good man who clearly lived by The Golden Rule. He was cheerful, honest and always willing to lend a hand to others. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to go in Charlie's memory to New Hope Hospice, 500 N. Lake Havasu Ave., Suite 8-106, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403. A memorial service is pending. Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home & Crematory.