On Friday afternoon, Nov. 19, 2021, Anthony “Tony” Fugal passed away at home in Mount Pleasant, Utah, of complications from Covid-19. Tony was 65 years old.
Tony was born on May 8, 1956, in American Fork, Utah, to Bruce Shadrach Fugal and Eva Alene Rasmussen. He was the fourth of nine children. Tony went to elementary school in Pleasant Grove, Utah, then junior high and high school in American Fork, Utah. He graduated in 1974. Tony married his high school sweetheart, Mary Sharice Watson, on Jan. 15, 1976, in the Salt Lake Temple. They had eight children.
Tony loved working on trucks, cars, or equipment in the shop. Tony enjoyed many hours of his childhood and youth playing in the foothills of Mount Baldy and the “G” Mountain under the shadow of Mount Timpanogos. He grew up going on hikes and campouts with his family. His mother instilled in him a love of music.
Tony developed many of his skills at an early age. As a boy, he cut teeth on wrenches in his father’s mechanic shop in Pleasant Grove. At age 12, he spent summers working for his Uncle Merrill Bunker in Bunkerville, Nevada. He learned to plow fields, harvest and load hay, repair or weld fences, drive and repair tractors, milk cows, and nurture the calves. He took great pride in earning enough money to buy his own school clothes, shoes, and supplies. After high school, he received his HVAC certification through UVCC as well as many other certifications. He learned blasting and mining in Kansas. He became a gunsmith and taught Utah Hunter Safety courses. His most recent hobby was beekeeping.
Tony worked as a dairy farmer, as a custodian at schools, and at the Utah State Developmental Center, all intermixed with work for Fugal Construction Company and other family construction or HVAC businesses. He drove 18-wheel fuel delivery tankers for Rhinehart Oil and Walker Oil for over 19 years. At the time of his passing, Tony was a well-loved school bus driver for Sanpete School District in Sanpete County.
Tony served in a variety of callings for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also provided equipment maintenance for the local Church Welfare Services and served as a stake missionary with Mary in the American Fork, Utah West Stake.
Tony is survived by his wife, Mary; their daughters, Mindy Fugal, Jessica (Bryant) Ireland, Amy (Francisco “Paco”) Martinez, Keri (Steve) Orr; and their sons, Bruce A. (Aleisa) Fugal, and Nathan A. Fugal; eight siblings, Naomi (Chad) Penrod, Christian (Carol) Fugal, Sherri (Michle) Shepherd, Tamera Trester, Kelly (Karen) Fugal, Jesse Fugal, Merilee (Richard) Featherstone, Melanee (Duane) Lehmberg; 20 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; and over 100 nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by two stillborn children, Shadrach Michael and Shalice Michelle; his parents, Bruce and Alene Fugal; brother-in-law, Stanley Palmer; nephew and niece, Tyler K. Fugal and Krista Messer; and his great-niece, Courtney McRae Grant.
A viewing was held on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, from 6-8 p.m. at the Utah Valley Mortuary, 1966 West 700 North, Lindon, Utah. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, at 11 a.m. at the Mount Pleasant 2nd Ward building and Stake Center, 295 South State Street, Mount Pleasant, Utah. Interment was at the Mount Pleasant City Cemetery, 115 W Main St, Mt Pleasant, Utah.
Our family expresses sincere thanks to Utah Valley Mortuary and Rasmussen Mortuary. We express deep gratitude to many family, friends, extended family and co-workers who have reached out to share in our grief and sorrow. Special thanks to Mount Pleasant 2nd Ward family and Relief Society for their many selfless acts of service and love.
In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate contributions to The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, https://www2.jdrf.org/site/Donation2?2374.donation=form1&df_id=2374&s_src=jdrf.org&s_subsrc=siteMenuLink or to Utah Valley Mortuary in Anthony Fugal’s name.
