Frederick Covey

Frederick Eugene Covey, 85, died March 26, 2022, in Gunnison, Colorado with family. He was born 11 months after the Dustbowl Black Sunday to Jennie Martin Covey and Harold Cecil Covey in Fowler Kansas. He married Kay Lee Bishop of Jackson Michigan in New Mexico on February 21, 1957, in New Mexico. They met while both working in Denver at the Samsonite Factory.

Fred’s career in transportation required location changes to advance. The family lived in Michigan, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Fred and Kay continued to move for work to Florida, Arizona, Nevada and finally back to Colorado. They always took advantage and enjoyed all the states they lived in and took grandchildren exploring too. His last retirement job was at the Albertsons on 12th. Fred knew and teased everyone who walked in the door. His humor and kindness brought smiles to customers. Fred always worked hard to provide opportunities for his family. His family was always his focus. He enjoyed gardening, cooking, watching sports, walking his beloved dogs, and playing golf. He was his granddaughter Mandala’s private bus driver transporting her to grade school daily during her grade school years. His long love for sports reflected in his shooting hoops with his daughters and the neighborhood kids. He would always pull out his infamous hook shot to win.

Survivors include wife Kay, Gunnison, daughter Lisa Marie Johnson and husband Charles Johnson, Omaha, Nebraska, Sheri Renee Covey and husband Robert Bleiberg, Crested Butte/Grand Junction, and daughter Marla Lee Covey and husband James Marra, Crested Butte. Grandchildren include CJ Johnson of Colorado Springs, Eric Johnson and wife Amanda Helmick, Grand Junction, Alyssa Covey Irving and husband Austin Irving, Grand Junction and Mandala Covey Bleiberg, Crested Butte, and great grandson Barton Irving.

Family will hold a private service in Grand Junction after cremation. The family requests memorials to the donor’s favorite pet shelter (he loved his shelter pups) or Colorado West Land Trust in Grand Junction, Colorado.