Walter Henry Frazier
Walter Henry Frazier was born in Blue Eye, Missouri, on July 9, 1926 to Della and William Frazier. He passed away at Brendan House in Kalispell on April 27, 2018 at the age of 91. (He would have been 92 on July 9.)
He enlisted in the U.S. Army before graduating from high school. He was a Forward Infantry Scout (87th Infantry, 347th Division) and on the front lines in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. He came home with a Presidential Unit Citation and a Bronze Star at the age of 19.
He lived in Oroville, California, where he met the love of his life, Dora Fay Martin. Their first date was on a bicycle. They were married in 1947 at Reno, Nevada.
He was a hunter/trapper (at a young age) for the California Fish and Wildlife. He was a reserve sheriff’s deputy and he retired as a California Fish and Game Warden. He taught hunter’s safety for many years. Our family spent many summers “camping out” with Dad doing his job.
Walter loved hunting with his hounds and many friends. He really enjoyed hunting mountain lions and bear.
He loved country music and played the guitar, accompanying the fiddles and music played by the California Old Time Fiddlers Association (and the Sunshine Band that played at care centers).
Although he was always a believer, he and Dora were baptized at the Libby Christian Church on May 16, 1999.
He was preceded in death by his dad (when he was very young) and a brother, Roy Kenneth. He had a brother, Don Frazier; sisters Maxene Frazier, Evelyn Ullrich and Betty Ann Scott; and a younger brother, Wesley Simmons. His mother married Clifford Simmons after she moved her family from Missouri. He was a wonderful addition to our family.
Walt and Dora celebrated their 71st Wedding Anniversary on March 9, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Dora, and their three children: Connie Sue Frederick (Gene), of Troy, Walter Eugene (Peggy), of Magalia, California, and Clifford Allen of Oroville, California. They have seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Walter was buried in Oroville, CA, near many family members and friends, on May 18, 2018. His grandson, Dane Frazier, spoke for our family. He said, “We are blessed to have had grandpa. It’s up to us, to use his memories, his principles and his continued guidance. Please know he’s watching over us, call him in a prayer once in a while. Grandpa, Dad, Walt — we miss you already. Please find us a holler and a hound so we can get another race started soon. The music will play by the campfire, where the beans and ham will be warm when we return. Until we see you again, know we love you.”
A celebration of Walter’s life will be held later this summer at their home on Lower Valley Road, beside the Stillwater River, on a date to be announced.