Frank Jay Daer

Frank Jay Daer was born in Roundup, Montana on June 20, 1925 to Angus and Louise Daer. He passed away into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 16, 2014, after suffering a stroke 9 days earlier. He was 88 years old.

Frank had a heart as big as the Montana sky where he was born, and his twinkling eyes were just as blue and clear. While growing up in Roundup, occasionally his mother would take the children to Sunday school at the Baptist church down the road from where they lived. It was here that Frank met his forever sweetheart and the love of his life, Ivadell Barrett, when they were both juniors in high school.

After graduating high school, at the height of WWII, Frank was drafted and joined the United States Marine Corp as an aircraft mechanic in September 1943. He served with the 8th Squadron based in Maui, Hawaii. About a year into his military service, he called Ivadell on the phone and told her that if he ever got another furlough, they were getting married! As Ivadell recalls it, he didn't even ask her permission, he just "told her" and that was that--but she didn't have any objections. On October 17, 1944, Frank and Ivadell were married at her parents' home in Klein, Montana. Several months later, Frank was reassigned to Camp Pendleton in California for retraining as part of the Marines infantry. Shortly thereafter, he and his squadron returned to Hawaii, and learned that they had orders to invade Japan. They were told that many of them would not be returning home. But 30 days before their ship was to leave port, on August 6, 1945, the United States Army Air Forces dropped the bomb on Hiroshima, bringing the war to a swift end. Frank has always credited that event with saving his life, and allowing him to return home to see his beautiful wife and 10 month-old baby son, whom he hadn't yet met!

After being honorably discharged from the armed services, Frank and Ivadell brought their young family to live near Frank's parents in Richland, Washington. Frank worked as a Purchasing Agent for General Electric, then later for Douglas United Nuclear, Bechtel, and finally for Energy Northwest. They raised their three children, Ken, Janet and Beverly, in Benton City, Washington, and then moved to Concord, California for a few years before finally settling back "home" in Richland.

Frank remained a proud Marine for the remainder of his life, and a red Marine Corp flag waves proudly below the United States Flag at their Richland home to this day. The Marine Corps motto, "Semper Fidelus", means "Always Faithful". Frank lived a life that exemplified this motto in every way--whether it was providing faithful service to his church, family, friends or his community. A long-time member of Central United Protestant Church in Richland, Frank was always volunteering to help someone in need. From visiting men in prison, to taking meals to the sick, fixing broken down cars for widows, or giving rides to the elderly who could no longer drive, Frank always served others with a glad heart and a humble spirit. He was a living example of what The Savior meant when he said to His disciples, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt. 25:40

One of his proudest moments was being invited to participate in an Honor Flight trip back to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial in June of 2010. It was a wonderful experience that Frank was able to share with his son Ken Daer, his grandson Robb Daer, and his great-grandson George Daer, who was 7 years old at the time.

Frank and Ivadell's retirement gift to each other was their motor home. They enjoyed many years taking long road trips and camping together. The highlight of these retirement excursions was during the 1980's, when they took a long trip back to the East Coast to see the beauty and all the historical sights found around our nation's capital, and they eventually ended up at Frank's oldest brother Jack's home in Alabama for a visit. They joined a motor home club called "The Valley Vagabonds" and developed many close friendships as they traveled around to various campgrounds as a group and spent time visiting, eating, playing games, and enjoying the outdoors together. One year they decided to try being "Snow Birds" and spent the winter in Arizona, but they didn't like being away from family for the holidays, so they never did that again!

For Frank, the best memories in life always involved being surrounded by his family. A loyal Mariner's baseball fan, Frank was surprised by his family on his 80th birthday to be a guest of honor at a Seattle Mariner's baseball game. He enjoyed the ballgame surrounded by family members, and even got to see his name up in lights on the Jumbotron screen, with the wishes "Happy 80th Birthday Frank Daer!"

Frank was an avid gardener, and a member of the Tri-City Rose Society for many years. His grandchildren have fond memories of helping Grandpa pick raspberries from his garden, and then eating them served over homemade ice cream that had been churned with an old fashioned crank-operated ice cream maker, using lots of ice, lots of rock salt, and lots of muscle!

As much as Frank lived his life as a giver, in constant service to his fellow man, even more than that he was a teacher. He seemed to have a keen awareness that it was more valuable to learn to do something for yourself, rather than to have it done for you. So many of his children, grandchildren and their spouses remember Frank teaching them how to do a myriad of things: how to grow healthy tomato plants, how to correctly prune a rose bush, how to fix a toilet or any other plumbing issue, how to diagnose and fix virtually any mechanical problem on a car or lawn-mower engine, and the list could go on and on. But the most important lesson that Frank taught everyone who ever met him was how to treat others with unconditional love, patience and kindness. He epitomized the love of Christ on earth!

Frank is survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Ivadell Daer of Richland, son Ken Daer of Eureka, CA; daughter Janet Oswalt Kent of Richland; and daughter Beverly White John, of Camano Island, WA; grandchildren Kim Oswalt Betzsold John of Richland; Cindy Oswalt, Des Moines, WA; Dan Oswalt, Portland, OR; Brandon Oswalt Kinuyo also of Richland; Kevin Oswalt Katie, Bothell, WA; Steve White Jill Seattle, WA; Alison White Tinker Jeff, Beaverton, OR; Robb Daer Julie, Santa Rosa, CA; Kristin Daer Forster Doug, Naples, FL; Fawn Giordano Bart, Willow Glen, CA; great-grandchildren George Daer, Santa Rosa, CA; Stephanie and Hailey Groff, Richland; Nick, Zack, Josh and Riley Betzsold, Richland; Taylor, Kylee, Landry, and Holden Oswalt, Richland; Ryder and Skarlet Oswalt, Bothell, WA; Andrew, Holly and Sara Tinker, Beaverton, OR; Stella, Scarlett and Lucy Giordano, Willow Glen, CA.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents and 8 siblings, including his twin brother who died at birth; his oldest grandson, Tom White; and his great-grandson Dylan Oswalt.

His burial is to be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens today, Thursday, May 22nd, 2014, at 4:00 p.m. Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 7th, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., at Central United Protestant Church in Richland. Everyone is welcome!

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Inland NW Honor Flight, 608 W 2nd Ave. Ste. 309, Spokane, WA 99201. Donations can also be made at www.inwhonorflight.org.