About the time he could walk, Dean Maeser Flake learned to cross the street to the three story brick house where his grandpa James M. Flake lived. Dean would sit on his grandpa’s lap while they cracked pinyon nuts and listen to the radio. In a few years, he would pay his grandpa his entire life savings of $3 to buy his first horse, Old Judge.

Dean was the first son born Oct. 6, 1931, to Virgil and Gerda Flake in Snowflake, following his big sister Evelyn. Soon Dixie, Jake (deceased) David, Jed (deceased), Cleone and Steve would join the family. His early life was full of work, mischief, church and family, not necessarily. Virgil gave his children the gift of absolute integrity and the notion that hard work was noble and necessary. Gerda provided the music, tenderness and sociability that gave their home the necessary balance.

After high school, Dean spent a year at ASU and then served for three years in Sweden, home of his Hendrickson immigrant grandparents. After his mission, Dean was immediately drafted during the Korean War, serving in Germany.

Dean enrolled at BYU during the fall semester of 1955, just long enough to meet a beautiful Michigan girl named Nerita Hock. Their mutual attraction was immediate, deep and permanent. He brought his sweetheart home to Arizona at Christmas time to meet his folks and they were married Jan. 18, 1956.

Dean finished a vocational agriculture degree at the University of Arizona. He returned to Snowflake to teach for several years, ranching part-time with his father. Eventually, he would build the F-Bar Cattle Company with three of his brothers and raise cattle and kids. Eleven children were born over a period of 22 years: Matt, Laraine, Scott, Larry, Jeff, Mike, Joey, Heidi, Suzy, Jon and Kaija. Dean and Nerita also welcomed Effie, Delores, Cornelia, and Michaela among other beloved foster kids.

Because he obviously had a lot of free time, Dean would also serve on the city council, as mayor, on the state judicial selection advisory commission and on the state parks board during the time that Kartchner Caverns was developed. He and Nerita would also serve a family history mission in Hawaii as soon as their last child left home.

Dean’s service as a bishop’s counselor and bishop over 14 years had a lasting influence for good on hundreds of people. He was full of humor, good sense and compassion. Dean was naturally friendly and invited many to share a meal or provided a bed to sleep in.

Dean could wiggle his ears, charm any baby, sing, tell hilarious stories and wonderful jokes. He loved ice cream, pranks, a good horse and his wife, children and grandchildren, not necessarily in that order. Dean and Nerita’s 61 years together has been a love story as profound as their faith. During the 15 years that Alzheimer’s disease progressively clouded Dean’s mind, Nerita has cared for him tenderly, keeping their connection unbroken and their love ever blooming.

Dean died June 26, 2017, at his home in Snowflake, with the windows open, a breeze blowing, the clouds building and the promise of a good rainstorm on the way.

There will be a viewing from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, July 2, at the Pioneer Park Building in Snowflake. A funeral celebrating his life will be 11 a.m. Monday, July 3, in the Main Street Chapel in Snowflake, with a viewing prior to the funeral from 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Owens Livingston Mortuary of Show Low handled the arrangements.

For those who have special memories and would like to send private condolences or sign our online guest book, we invite you to visit www.owenslivingstonmortuary.com.