Francis Grant Malan born to Grant Sherner and Frances Moyes Tillotson Malan on July 4, 1948 in Ogden, Utah; he was the 3rd of 5 children – Betty (Elizabeth Olson), Trudy, (Videto) Frank (Francis), Garth, and Bruce. He passed away peacefully at his home on December 5, 2025 in Price, Utah. Frank or Frankie as he was known throughout his life will be remembered for so many things, and many recount fond and tender memories of him. He was the kind of guy that whoever met him loved him for his kind heart and genuine concern and care he showed to them. He was known for giving the “shirt off of his back” to a total stranger if he thought they needed it. Even to the dead animals on the road, Vance remembers he would take the time to pull over and place them on the curb or lawn so that if they did belong to someone they didn’t see them all squashed up! He just had a very loving and kind way with all people and things he came in contact with.
Growing up Frank loved to play baseball, basketball and football in which he was outstanding at all sporting activities. His baseball team was known as “the Stink bugs”. He loved to pitch and was known for his fast ball. One time his team was playing some guys that thought they were hot shots. One of the guys on the other team was a big big guy and was up to bat. Frank, pitching a fast ball ended up hitting him, and when he threw another pitch he hit him again! One hit was kind of forgivable, but the second was definitely not! The whole team went running after him, but no one could catch up to Frank – he was a quick runner too! Frank and the guys in the neighborhood found great pleasure in contending with each other to see who was the best. He loved to play basketball and football too. He was a really good player at basketball and he would tell us that he was the best, “until his brother Garth showed up!” At football, he never feared the ones on the other side no matter how big they were. Frank’s brother Garth remembers when he was a kid and playing with Frank and the others that there again was a big strong guy playing on the other side. Frank noticed Garth running away from him because Garth was afraid of this big guy. Frank told Garth to round his shoulders and to go after his feet to tackle him. In doing so he told Garth the guy would fall over him and Garth wouldn’t get hurt. When Garth did that, it was exactly as Frank taught him and that guy and others after that stayed away from Garth as well!
He grew up in Ogden on Madison and 22nd street right across the street from a Liberty Park. There were known to be different gangs that thought they were pretty “tuff” that hung out at this park and other parks around town. Frank was known for his Karate kicking and he was very good at it. He could literally kick with both feet at the same time doing a side kick and then land on both feet! The gang guys were afraid to fight him because they knew what he could do with his feet. On one occasion they tried to jeer him to a fight and called him a “sissy” because he uses his feet, and he responded to them, “well, you can’t whoop this sissy!” Whether Frank was afraid or not to confront these gangs, he would stand up to them, so they didn’t want to mess with him! Frank was very close to his Grandma Beth Tillotson, known also as “Grandma T”, she was a second mother to him and he always spoke so highly of her. He lived with her for a time growing up and learned much from her. She was very kind and gentle and very detail oriented, which is more likely where Frank learned that talent from. He kept records and details of many things in his life due to her teachings to him.
Starting his own family at a young age, he was the father of five wonderful children. Vance who was the oldest, then Michelle, Kimberly, Shantel and Danielle. He dearly loved all of his children and was grateful for the rekindling of relationships with a few of them. He knew he wasn’t a perfect man, but tried to be there for them especially in his later years of life. Those relationships gave so much joy, peace and happiness to his life. We all learn by the things that we suffer, and Frank felt that suffering much more as he got older about the raising of his family. Knowing he could not change the past, he really tried to make the present a much better life for him and his family relations. He showed loving concern and care for them, by phone calls, visits, and the many birthday, holiday and anniversary cards he sent and received.
He loved all of his nieces and nephews as well, and they loved him. He could never say enough good about them, and really appreciated the care and love they gave to him. He loved to nurture the littlest of babes, and his sister Betty when she came for a visit from her home in Michigan, she remembers Frank holding her young daughter Malan who was about one and was very sick, feverish, and fussy. She just needed to be held and comforted, and Frank was the one to do that; he held her for hours! He had such a warmth, gentleness and love to help all of these little ones. Even before his passing, he loved and pampered the little children. Frank loved the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was very active in his service to the Lord there and loved going to the temple, as well as his many callings in the wards he served in. One of his favorite and challenging callings was as an Elder’s quorum President, many people respected him and looked up to him. Frank was a light to many of the gospel truths he so dearly loved both by example and word.
Frank had a big heart, and he will be remembered for his generosity, kindness and consideration to so many! His many attributes and qualities were much like his love for His Savior and how Frank learned from the teachings of Him.
Frank is preceded in death by his father Grant Sherner Malan, and his mother Frances Moyes Tillotson Malan.
He has 5 children all living: Vance Malan (son), Michelle Bradshaw (daughter), Kimberly Malan (daughter), Shantel Watson (daughter) Danielle Moore (daughter) and grandchildren and great grandchildren. We will greatly miss you and love you our Dear Dad, Brother, Cousin, and Grandpa! Thank you for your love and kindness to all! We thank his home health nurse Brittany who spent quality time with him helping him and playing the different card games he so loved to play. He really enjoyed his time with her.
A Celebration of Life will be at a later time, and people will be notified. Thank you!
Family Memories: Shantel Watson – Daughter: He will be remembered for his humor and playfulness, his creative stories, his ability to root for the underdog, his love for Elvis. But most of all, he loved God and sought to know more of His loving kindness. He expressed a lot of gratefulness in his last days here on earth. MariLyn Malan Shively – Niece: My uncle had a gruffness about him that made me smile and within him lived a soft heart. Beneath that rough exterior was a tender and generous heart. Though he often underestimated his own worth, he showed love in quiet ways—giving what he had, even when he had little, and offering care without expectation. He preferred solitude over holiday tables but his affection for family ran deep and sincere. He had a way of making us laugh. I remember him and my dad talking on the phone for hours—laughing together until tears streamed down their faces. I remember long drives to the doctor, listening to his stories and getting glimpses of the life he carried inside him. He loved trains, and—oh, how he loved music. His life was simple and his love was real. His laughter still echoes in my memories, and his stories live in the quiet corners of my heart. I’m grateful for who he was, for what he gave, and for the joy he brought into our family’s lives.
Vance told MariLyn that when he would talk to his dad that when it came time to hang up, both would get a little melancholy and instead of just saying good-bye, Frank would say “Bye for now” because Frank didn’t like to say good-bye. Mandie Merrell – Niece: I used to take Frank to his doctor appointments up north and on one particular day I had some jerky sticks in my car and I asked him if he wanted one. He said, “sure, that would be great!” He broke a piece off and he put it in his mouth starting to chew on it, and I asked him as I am trying not to gag, “when you gonna bark?” He looks at me and goes “did you just feed me a dog treat?!” I responded with much laughter “I sure did!” He spit it out, and threw the rest of the dog treat at me! So Frank – Bye for Now – We Love You!
Arrangements are in the compassionate care of Castle Valley Funerals & Cremations where family and friends are always welcome and may share memories online at www.castlevalleyfunerals.com.