obituary<\/a>, Fraley was born April 2, 1955, in Abilene, Texas, to Billy Jack and Alicia Fraley and \u201cdied in the mountains he loved, surrounded by some of his favorite people.\u201d<\/p>\nFor decades, he owned and operated Fraley & Co., a Cortez-based propane company that he sold in 2014 to retire. His grandfather founded the company in 1939, and Fraley\u2019s father took the reins of the company and moved the office to Cortez in 1958.<\/p>\n
Besides heating homes for more than five decades, Fraley contributed his time to support the community, volunteering for local boards and projects, said Cortez Mayor Karen Sheek.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid was a good and kind man who loved his community and gave freely of his time and resources to benefit it,\u201d she said. \u201cIf a project benefited the community, there was a good chance that David Fraley was involved! His passing will leave an empty space in the heart of this community.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of his recent projects was serving as co-chairman for the upcoming Southwest Rural Philanthropy Days, Sept. 12-14 in Cortez.<\/p>\n
Fraley also loved archaeology and served on the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center board of trustees since 2011. He was set to become board chairman later this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things that made David such a wonderful choice for our new board chair was his deep connection to our greater Cortez community,\u201d said Liz Perry, Ph. D., president and CEO of Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. \u201cIt was a passion for David that Crow Canyon build more and greater relationships locally and truly become a friend and member of the local community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fellow board member Richard Ballantine said Fraley\u2019s insights and leadership were always valued.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis good judgment about people and events always contributed to the decision-making which led to a stronger and more effective archaeological research center and school,\u201d Ballantine said. Fraley\u2019s experience with his successful family business made him an effective chairman of the Crow Canyon audit committee as well, Ballantine said.<\/p>\n
Fraley\u2019s contributions to the community were meaningful, and his loss will be felt, his friends and colleagues said over the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid was straightforward and respectful in his dealings with everyone. He had common sense, but was also highly intellectual, and that allowed him to understand and appreciate the complexities of the world,\u201d said Mark Varien, Ph. D., executive vice president of the Research Institute at Crow Canyon. \u201cDavid\u2019s keen intellect, his passion and support for Crow Canyon\u2019s mission, his skills as a successful businessman and his ability to interact with everyone from all walks of life were invaluable assets to Crow Canyon.\u201d<\/p>\n
His was a good life that ended too soon, said friend Bill Lipe.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a friend, I will miss Dave\u2019s good humor and quiet counsel, and I offer my sincere condolences to his wife, Kristine, and his family,\u201d Lipe said.<\/p>\n
David had a bachelor\u2019s degree in anthropology from the University of Colorado Boulder and worked as an archaeologist with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Montana, from 1979 to 1987. He also worked at Mesa Verde National Park as an interpreter in 1975, 1976 and 1978. He later became president and CEO of Fraley & Co., a family-owned petroleum business in Cortez and Farmington, which he sold in 2014.<\/p>\n
Fraley is survived by his wife, Kristine of Cortez; his four children, Rebecca Fraley (Matt Shethar) of Lewis; Aeron Clason (Sean) of Cortez; Kayla Acott of Seattle; and Tell Acott of Camp Frank Merrill, Georgia. Also surviving Fraley are his two brothers, Richard Fraley (Jeanette) of Golden, and Joel Fraley (Michele) of Portland, Oregon, as well as a niece and two nephews, two grand-dogs, numerous guitars and many good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.<\/p>\n
A service will be held Friday at 4-7 p.m. at Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, 23390 Road K, in Cortez. The family asks in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in his name to Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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