Frank Bud Trease, age 71, born May 20, 1953 in Salt Lake City Utah, to David Bud and Norma Kirk Trease, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Scofield Utah, on November 28, 2024.
Frank was a singular man who loved fiercely, sacrificing for those he loved. There’s a saying that “Love is a verb, not an adjective” and his life embodies that concept. Hard work was a value he took pride in, and he was known and respected for the quality of his work. Frank began working at a very young age, and for many years worked sixteen-hour days to provide for his loved ones. He looked after people, it’s just who he was. If you were in a bind, Frank was a man that you could count on. He was generous to loved ones, neighbors and strangers alike. When Frank saw a need, he would help. It wouldn’t even have occurred to him not to. If he came across a hitchhiker, he would bring them home and feed them, or even drive hours out of his way to get them to where they needed to be. When someone in the community was falling on hard times Frank would load up a box of groceries along with whatever money he could spare, and anonymously leave it on their porch. He was a fixer with incredible ingenuity, at times pulling miracles out of thin air. Once, when a broken fuel pump left him stranded with his wife and young children in the mountains, he tied a gas can to the roof of his truck, rigged up a gravity fed line into the carburetor, started it up and got them all home safe. Frank was spontaneous and loved a good road trip, wanting to show his kids all the cool places he had been. He would complain when they’d pack for a drive out to see some ruins, but they’d learned the hard way that a day trip could easily turn into a multi-state adventure. After all, there was something really cool to see that was “only 200 more miles” from where they were. They loved the trips, but wearing damp underwear you’d washed in a rest stop bathroom makes a strong impression, so they’d learned to bring extra. Frank faced life’s struggles pragmatically, saying “You can’t lose something in life without gaining something else. Even if the horse dies, at least you don’t have to feed it anymore”. Frank hated a bully, and he absolutely loved a dirty joke.
Frank’s early years were spent wrangling wild horses on the San Rafael desert and riding in the mountains surrounding Scofield, which was always the place he thought of as home. During his formative years he developed a deep, enduring bond with his Grandma Ivy, that remained a touchstone throughout his life. At the age of sixteen, Frank married Cheryl Lynn Campbell and though they would later divorce, they welcomed their daughter Franki, in 1970. At this time, he went to work in Salt Lake City for Manwill Plumbing and Heating along with a second job laying brick. When their marriage ended, he moved back to Carbon County and when he was seventeen, he began roofing houses for Earl Hansen. His Grandma Ivy asked him to replace her roof, which caused some contention.
She was cautioned that she shouldn’t trust a kid with a job that big. Knowing better, she simply said “I trust Frank.” By the time it was finished, so did everyone else.
Frank obtained his CLD license as soon as he legally could and began driving trucks with his father Bud, brother Rick and close family friend Bob Spalding. He gained experience operating heavy equipment, earning a reputation for meticulous work, and was recruited by his employer to travel to Coshocton Ohio as a Caterpillar operator.
In December of 1973, when he was 20, Frank returned to Carbon County, and reconnected with the girl he had dated off and on named Cathleen Larsen. They were married May 22, 1974. Their first daughter, Claudia, was born in 1975, and in January of 1976 they moved to Scofield Utah, where he went to work in the mines. During his mining years, he earned his Fire Boss and Mine Foreman Certifications. In the summer of 1977, Cathie’s mother died unexpectedly and they welcomed Cathie’s 9-year-old sister Charmaine into their home and raised her as their own. Their second daughter Buffie was born later in 1977 and they were blessed with their third daughter, Chanie in 1979. It was during these years that Frank began building up his small back-hoe business. Though working long hours, and despite struggling with dyslexia, he spent his nights studying, having Cathie quiz him for hours. Through this diligent work, he obtained his General Contractors license.
In 1986 Frank and family moved to East Carbon for five years. He continued to drive trucks and run his contracting business, primarily installing concrete driveways. Shortly after their move to East Carbon, his Grandma Ivy’s health began to decline, so Frank converted a small barber shop next to his home into an apartment for her. She lived there with them, and they felt blessed to be able to care for her during her last remaining years.
In 1990 they moved to Carbonville and Frank worked primarily delivering concrete. He moved back to Scofield in 2007 and began working for Scofield Town and Mike Erkkila. In 2010 Frank and Cathie divorced, though they would come to maintain a deep friendship.
In 2011 Frank began a relationship with Meliss Holloway, the woman who would be his life partner for the rest of his days. They both loved camping, fishing and nature. Frank was so proud of the full-sized tee-pee Meliss made, and loved to show off her talents. They enjoyed spur of the moment trips, and would often take off to parts unknown on a whim. In around 2019, it became apparent that Frank was having memory lapses and trouble finding the words he wanted to say. Soon after he was diagnosed with early onset dementia. This primarily affected first his ability to speak, and later his ability to understand what was being said to him. Even so, when it was important to him, though he couldn’t find the exact phrase, he found a way to get his point across. During a recent trip to Salt Lake, when Meliss was at a doctor’s appointment, he expressed to his daughter his love for Meliss, saying “I need her. I love her.” His youngest daughter Chanie visited him frequently, and though it was a struggle to get the words out he would tell her “I love you, all the time.” Up until the last two weeks of his life Frank still loved seeing the mountains around Scofield, so Meliss would take him nearly every day for a drive through the mountains that he loved so much. She was his love and his companion, with him through the very end.
He is preceded in death by his parents David Bud (Doris) Trease, Norma (McKay) Roberts, siblings Terry Trease, Michael Wright, Lorry Wright, Chuck (Carla) Roberts, Steven (Lana) Roberts.
He is survived by his life partner, Meliss Holloway Trease, Scofield; daughters Charmaine (Tyler) Brennan, South Dakota; Franki Youd, Tooele; Claudia (Brandon) Erickson, Salt Lake City; Buffie Trease, West Jordan; Chanie Bud Trease (Jarrod Poindexter), West Jordan. Siblings Rick (Judith) Trease, Leah Watt, Leslie (Allen) Wilder, Vicki (Rex) Voight, Steve (Anita) Wright, Heidi (Paul)Meyers, Rhett (Stephanie) Roberts, Stacee (Brett) Blackburn, Micki (Rob) Kinch, Tana (Jim) Besendorfer. 12 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren with 2 on the way, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends.
Frank wasn’t one to stand on tradition, and welcomed everyone. Please come as you are, any attire is welcome for the service.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund at https://curealz.org
Funeral service for Frank will be Thursday, December 5, 2024, 1:00 p.m., Mitchell Funeral Home (233 East Main Street) in Price where the family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and Thursday one hour prior to service. Burial will be in the Scofield Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Frank online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net