Thomas Fugate

Thomas R. Fugate

St. George, UT - Thomas Reneford Fugate, a kind and devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend, passed away unexpectedly on February 3, 2021 at St. George Regional Hospital.

Tom was born in Ogden, UT on July 29, 1947 to Jesse Ralph and Marjorie Mae Fugate of Cabool, MO. He was raised in Clearfield, UT and spent his youth in the then wilds of Weber and Davis Counties playing baseball, golfing and exploring. He also had many fond memories of summers working with his grandparents on the family farm in Missouri. Tom graduated from Clearfield High School in 1965 and attended Weber State University. He joined the US Army Reserve in 1966 and served until he was honorably discharged in 1981. He was employed by the US Postal Service as a letter carrier for more than 30 years. Following his retirement, he became a greens keeper and worked at golf courses in Utah, Nevada and Wyoming.

To say that Tom loved the outdoors would be an understatement. In his younger years he was an avid hunter and fisherman, with his experiences taking him from the wilds of Alaska to the big sky country of Montana to the deserts of Nevada. Once retired, he spent a number of years RV-ing across the United States with his wife, Peggy. He eventually settled in St. George, where he truly found his home. With the vast desert at his doorstep, he spent many days on remote roads and trails in search of geocaches. He was known among his fellow geocachers as “Skeeper.” Although the nature of Tom’s adventures varied throughout his years, the common thread was the many friendships he made.

Tom was the humble recipient of a life-saving liver transplant and had recently passed his five-year survival anniversary. He was “the poster boy for organ transplants” because of his strict adherence to transplant guidelines. He followed those rules not only for his health, but also to honor the sacrifices of the donor and their family to whom he owed his second chance at life and would be forever grateful to.

Tom is survived by Peggy Jean, his wife of 20 years, his son Justin R. (Samantha), stepdaughter Jen Jepson, granddaughters Whitney, Brooke and Hannah Mae, step granddaughters Zoie, Solei and Simone, three great grandchildren, his sister Kay (Cortez) and his second family the Murrays. He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Heidi.

Tom’s family wishes to sincerely thank the IHC Transplant Services team and the many doctors and medical staff who compassionately managed his care so effectively for the past five years.

Visitations to celebrate his life will be held in St. George on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 1:00 pm at the Ridge Pointe clubhouse, 1360 E Telegraph St, Washington, UT. A second gathering will be held Monday, February 15, 2021 from 6 to 8 pm at Lindquist's Layton Mortuary, 1867 N Fairfield Rd, Layton, UT 84041. Graveside services will be held Tuesday February 16, 2021 at 11 a.m.  at Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 N. Fairfield Road.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to DonorConnect at Donorconnect.life. https://www.donorconnect.life/get-involved/contribute/

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