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Life Legacy
Andrew Campbell Fraser born in Oak Park, Illinois on June 25, 1960, passed away on July 3, 2012. A celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, September 2, 2012 at 1:45 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge #57 in Spirit Lake, Idaho.
Andy grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, with his sister and four brothers. There the foundation of his character developed. As a young boy, Andy had a wonderful group of friends that enjoyed coming over to his house. They witnessed the tinkering and mechanical skills that Andy had at this young age. He salvaged many relices from antique phonographs and radios to a host of lawn mowers. His ability to repair items started a life long joy of refurbishing things. Memories of that time are of him with 13 lawn mowers, which he repaired, running all at the same time in the front yard ---Andy proudly looking over them. Other fond things that Andy enjoyed at this time were listening to the Beatles on one of his turntables, riding bikes through the village, ping pong, family dinners at “the cabin,” and chocolate chip cookies with milk. The family vacationed in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where they hiked and enjoyed the shores of Lake Superior. Andy revisited the Upper Peninsula in his adult life. It was there where his love for nature began.
Andy was uprooted from his place of belonging at the age of fifteen; and with his mother and his two younger siblings, relocated in Logan, Utah. He enjoyed hiking up Logan Canyon with his friends and family to places such as Tony Grove, Cottonwood Creek, Blacksmith Fork and Beaver Mountain. Be it backcountry skiing, hiking, picnicking, or camping, his sense of exploring developed as he accessed the backcountry, curious to find out what lay around the next switchback. During this time his love of music continued to grow. He immersed himself into the melodies and verse. Andy’s love of music continued throughout his life.
In his adult life Andy lived in numerous places and had many special relationships. He called home places such as Jackson Hole, Deer Valley, Chicago, Nantucket Island, Belize, Salt Lake City and the Panhandle of Idaho.
He stayed on the island of Nantucket for an extensive period where he became a meticulous, sought after painter who specialized in painting historic homes with their extensive details. His gregarious personality made it easy for him to form relationships and he enjoyed a vast group of friends. Andy drew people to him with his infectious laugh, good sense of humor, enthusiastic fun ideas and concern for others. He and his friends spent time on the beach, in his cottage, surfcasting, and biking.
He returned to the Chicago area, where he grew up. He worked as a carpenter there and developed a strong, impressive work ethic. He loved animals and acquired a puppy, Sam Spade, who became Andy’s dear pal for about 13 years. They were inseparable and had a wonderful relationship that is talked about fondly to this day. He purchased his first Volkswagen bus while in Chicago, the vehicle he used to travel the country with Sam. Andy developed an affinity for Volkswagen buses; they became his signature vehicle.
Andy then returned to Utah and settled down in the Salt Lake City. He continued to work in the trades as a painter and easily adapted to life there with friends and family. He had a large clientele who used Andy for their painting needs. He became an engaged Uncle and brother-in-law. He loved being back in the West with all the hiking and biking it offered. Andy also enjoyed going to southern Utah with his family. Andy’s hobbies reverted back to what he once loved, refinishing furniture and repurposing things. During this period he was involved in a tragic life altering accident, narrowly escaping with his life. Through extensive therapy, tenaciousness, strong spirit and will, Andy was able to recoup.
As a result of his accident, Andy found himself longing for a cooler climate and had a desire to be closer to his family in Idaho so he decided to move to the Panhandle. He was in close proximity to his two older brother’s families, his mother and father. Life was good in many ways for Andy. He was a great cook and loved to host. Friends would never miss his barbeques. He was surrounded by loving family and formed deep relationships with his nephews and nieces who live in the Panhandle and Colorado. He was always free to play whatever game his young nephews and nieces wanted to play. He was loved very much by them and he treated them as an equal, a genuine buddy. He was the funniest Uncle. He became an avid boater and loved to share his love of the water with his friends and family. He had some of his best times while out on Lake Pend Oreille.
Andy was a unique, fun loving, and a sensitive person who genuinely cared for the people who knew him. Andy’s relationships with the women he loved throughout his life were filled with passion and loyalty. He was humble and had no airs about him. He was very accepting of others. His happy spirit and humorous self can still be heard today within those who knew him. The void he leaves cannot be filled; it leaves a special place that we honor.
Andy lived with the thought that you needed to live each day as if it would be your last. We wish the last day was much longer down the road. Andy, your travels now continue and know that you are dearly missed.
He leaves behind many relatives and friends who thought the world of him: his mother, Annette J. Fraser-Runnalls; father, John Forbes Fraser Jr.; brothers John, Doug, Cameron, Alex; sister, Mary; three sister in-laws, Rochelle, Jessee, and Dale; four nephews, Alex #2, Scott, Garrett, Alex #3; and six nieces, Bailey, Megan, Elizabeth, Shannon, Jenna and Clara.
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