Frederick J. Ash

Frederick "Fred" Jennings Ash Obituary On Sunday 16 February 2020, Frederick "Fred" Jennings Ash, age 82, loving husband, stepfather, grandfather, brother, and uncle died peacefully at his home in Mesa, Arizona with his wife by his side due to complications of heart disease and kidney failure. Fred was born on 26 November 1937 in Mesa, Arizona to Frederick Thomas Ash, born 3 February 1902 in Salt Lake City, Utah and Hannah Alverda Jennings Ash, born 4 March 1909 in Taylor, Arizona. Fred was raised on a 20-acre dairy farm at the Southwest Corner of Southern and Stapley Drive. In 1948 the family moved to the PZ Ranch at Winkelman, Arizona where they operated a dairy which included delivering milk to the surrounding communities, farming operations, and the grazing of cattle. Needless to say, during these farm experiences he learned how to work. Fred started school at age four out of necessity because his mother was working and she fudged his age. He attended Lincoln and Irving Elementary Schools in Mesa before moving to the PZ where he then attended the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades in Hayden, Arizona. He moved back to Mesa for his high school years. At Mesa High School he participated in football, wrestling, and track but his aptitudes were more academic. He graduated from high school in 1955 at the age of 17. After high school Fred attended ASU where he majored in Accounting getting a Bachelor of Science Degree in three years by going to summer school and loading up on classes. Upon graduation, he received a couple of academic awards for having the highest-grade point average in the business college. He graduated from college in 1958 at the age of 20 years. During his tenure at ASU he worked for a dairyman farmer shaving cow's bags, the United States Postal Service, and the accounting firm of Henry and Horne. Although Fred had tried to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before the minimum age, even discussing it with visiting authority Bruce R. McConkie, he was not permitted. Upon graduation from ASU Fred was finally of age and served in the Northern California Mission in small branches in Grass Valley and Vallejo, California and Owyhee, Nevada. Owyhee was on a small branch of the Indian Reservation of Shoshone and Paiute Native Americans north of Elko. After his mission Fred received a fellowship to BYU where he spent a year enjoying the culture and social activities while working on a Master of Accountancy degree. During the middle of the year he developed debilitating rheumatoid arthritis. He circumscribed his activities and returned to Arizona. By the summer of 1961, the arthritis was physically limiting his mobility. Yet, with the help of his brother Hal, he was able to attend the University of Arizona Law School. By the time he received his Juris Doctorate in1964 his arthritis had improved. He served for a year in the University Ward Bishopric after which he returned to BYU to finish his Masters of Accountancy degree graduating in 1965. Upon completion of this degree he returned to Mesa. Because of his restricted physical activity, he felt his work schedule would be so reduced that he could not practice law with a large law firm so he opened his own general practice law office at N. Country Club Drive. He also served as a city prosecutor for Scottsdale for one year. After this his brother Harold "Hal" Reeb joined him in the law practice where they practiced law for 20 years. With neither Fred nor Hal enjoying the practice of law, they repeatedly sought other entrepreneurial ventures including a ranch in Young, Arizona; a Chevrolet agency in Hayden; a ranch and mobile home park in Winkelman; and a travel agency. His health with the arthritis was always at the forefront with periodic flareups and remissions. Feeling a need to contribute to the community Fred ran and was elected to the Board of Supervisors for the Salt River Project (SRP) where he served for 36 years. In 1983, after the sale of the ranches, Fred began development of ViewPoint RV and Golf Resort in East Mesa. Eventually his four brothers joined him in the enterprise. By the time the family sold the 325-acre resort in 2004 there were 2 golf courses with a pro shop, 3 swimming pools, a softball diamond, restaurant, and other amenities. Despite five joint replacements, Fred never let his arthritis get in the way of living his life to the fullest. In 1981 he began an exercise program that consisted of riding a stationary bike for nine miles six days a week. He continued this regimen for the next 38 years traveling nowhere but distancing over 63,000 miles which helped his arthritis. Fred loved the Book of Mormon and read and completed it every year for over 40 years. The last 25 of those years he also read and yearly completed the Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and New Testament. Fred loved his Savior Jesus Christ and enjoyed studying about him and his gospel plan. Fred had an incredible memory and had a quote or a poem for everything, mostly humorous, which he would quote with a twinkle in his eye. He was even better at number memory and often knew his credit card numbers and bank account numbers by heart. Fred's home had an open-door policy welcoming many friends and family members who lived with him over the years. He was known for his penchant of giving advice and his desire to help others achieve their full potential. By nature, Fred was reserved and extremely frugal. Only later in life, after becoming successful did he realize the importance of sharing his talents and assets with others. This resulted from his understanding that "all assets are the Lord's anyway and we just have the opportunity to use them on His behalf". He was a loyal supporter of the United Families Organization and LDS Philanthropies as well as many other charitable organizations. Peggy Lynn entered his life in 2010 and they were married in the Mesa Temple on 11 November 2011. They were very happily married and traveled the world together visiting many parts of Europe, the British Isles, Scandinavia, Russia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and the home of the Nephites in the Heartland of America. Peggy gave him three stepchildren and five grandchildren which has "provided rich blessings to him and the best thing that ever happened to him in his life". Throughout his life Fred spent a great deal of time behind his desk. Over the years whenever anyone asked Fred what he was up to he would always say "I'm just working on cleaning off my desk". He always said he planned to have it done before he died. He accomplished what he set out to do and now moves on to set up a new work station. Fred loved greatly, was greatly loved, and will be greatly missed. Predeceasing Fred were his parents Frederick Thomas Ash and Hannah Alverda Jennings, a brother Anthony "Tony" Thomas Ash (Tressa) and stepsister Carmen Lindsay. Surviving Fred are his wife Peggy Lynn (nee Parker); half-brother Harold "Hal" Henry Reeb (Janice); brothers Edwin Douglas Ash (LaDonna) and Cecil Paul Ash (Linda); stepchildren Melissa Rogers (Bryan), Daniel Throckmorton, Nathan Throckmorton (Courtney); five grandchildren; and twenty-three nieces and nephews for whom he was like a second father. Funeral services will be held Saturday 22 February 2020 at 10:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1455 North Harris Drive with a viewing before the services at 9:00 am. Arrangements entrusted to Meldrum Mortuary. Cemetery Details City of Mesa Cemetery 1212 N. Center St. Mesa, AZ 85201 Loading map Previous Events Visitation FEB 22. 9:00 AM (MT) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1455 N. Harris Dr. Mesa, AZ 85203 Loading map Funeral Service FEB 22. 10:00 AM (MT) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1455 N. Harris Dr. Mesa, AZ 85203 Loading map