Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Frederick Austin Lemon was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Edith and Brayton Lemon. He received his middle name Austin in honor of his grandfather Austin Lemon. He was greatly influenced by his grandfather, who was a master machinist that built the first firetruck for the city of Wyoming. Fred's mother was a schoolteacher, while his father was a watchmaker and volunteer fireman. As a result, Fred dreamed of being a volunteer fireman one day, following family tradition. He had a good childhood as he was raised with one brother, David. At a young age, he joined the Sea Scouts and made friends for life. Fred liked school and had a great interest in photography. He also loved football as he played center on his high school team, the Vikings. His football number was #50. He graduated from Wyoming Park High School and went onto further education at the New York Institute of Photography. While attending school in New York, he lived with his aunt and uncle in New Jersey. One of his greatest memories of that time was seeing the Rockettes perform at Radio City Music Hall.

Fred's life changed when he returned to Michigan and phoned a special girl named Donna and asked her out. They met in junior high school and she knew his family from their work in the fire department. Donna and Fred started dating, going to dinners, dances and movies. Months later, Fred went to her home and showed Donna's sisters, Irene and Marie, an engagement ring. Fred took Donna out to dinner and he proposed. In 1950, he voluntarily joined the Air Force. He was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base. The couple married in a beautiful church wedding on January 15, 1952, while Fred was on furlough from the Air Force. Donna carried white lilies and wore a beautiful full-length white satin gown, as her sister, Irene, was her maid of honor and dressed in a beautiful slate grey satin dress. Sea Scouts lined up as honor guards as the couple left the church in smiles. The newlyweds honeymooned in Chicago and saw the play "South Pacific" starring Mary Martin. As husband and wife, Donna and Fred lived on the base. By the first of February, Fred was shipped to Japan, serving there for one year while Donna worked as a civil servant in the Edwards Air Force Base Engineering Section. When Fred returned to Edwards Air Force Base, he did photography for the public relations department. He served our country proudly from 1950 to 1954. When he finished his service, he was a Senior Photographer and an Airman First Class for the Air Force, who earned the Korean Service Medal, U.N. Service Medal, 3 Battlestars to KSM, National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

After Fred finished his service in the Air Force, the couple returned to Michigan, where they bought a tan and cream 2-door 1953 Chevy. Donna was good at saving money and the couple paid $1,800 in cash for the car. Following his dreams, Fred became a volunteer fireman in 1954. He served the community for the next 20 years as he drove the firetruck. Fred earned a job at a photography studio in Michigan, where he took lots of pictures of kids. He also worked many jobs such as house painting, repair work and insurance damage repairs. When Donna found out she was pregnant, Fred found a steady job working for $2 an hour at Keeler Brass. The couple was so proud to have two wonderful sons: Fred and Robert. Fred was a wonderful father to his sons, involving them in everything. The boys both had tool belts and hard hats to do repairs around the house on Saturdays. They owned their own screwdrivers and tools as they took on early responsibility. Fred taught them how to use each tool, giving them valuable skills at an early age. In 1974, Fred told everyone he was going to California to get a job at Disney.

Fellow Sea Scout Dale Jobse found Fred a job at the boat docks when he moved to California. Joyce and Dale also welcomed the entire family to live at their home for the next nine months as they settled in California. Fred soon earned that job he dreamed of at Disney when he was hired as an electrician. In July 1975, the family made their home in Buena Park and the boys were hands-on involved in remodeling the entire house, including the kitchen, bathroom, plumbing and electrical. During the summer months, Fred worked the night shift so he could spend more time with his sons during the day. For the next 23 years, Fred worked on everything at Disney. He'd hear stories about Walt Disney, who sometimes lived in an apartment over the firehouse, just showing up while people were working at the park. Fred worked on so many projects including the People Mover, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Fantasy Land, Peter Pan and his work was critical to maintenance on rides at Disney. His position grew from Electrical Foreman to Electrical Buyer for the entire electrical department at Disney. Fred proudly shared his involvement with Disney as he owned a Disney phone and always wore his Mickey Mouse watch and belt buckle.

There were many vacations over the years. In fact, the family used the camper every other year for a full month to travel around the United States on 3,000-mile trips. The boys have visited every state except Maine, Alaska and Hawaii. A special family trip to Las Vegas was memorable. To teach the kids that gambling was no good, Fred handed Donna a few coins. To show the kids that money is quickly lost in gambling, she put three one dollar coins into the machine. On the third coin, she hit the jackpot and won $500. With a wonderful sense of humor, Fred enjoyed a good laugh at the irony of the situation. In every way, Fred was a supportive father, so very proud of his sons. He loved it when Robert played football at Buena Park High School, wearing his same football #50 on his jersey. In the four years that Robert played center or linebacker, Fred only missed one game. He attended both of the boys' graduations from Buena Park High School and Cerritos College, as he was so very proud of both of them. Even after the boys moved out, they'd call him for advice and he'd say, "those boys still need me." No matter what, the boys always knew their dad loved them unconditionally. Fred also loved his grandchildren and was very involved attending their performances, events at school or running the trains in the railroad room he created, "Timbuktu & Nowhere Railroad." It's an amazing railroad with all the lights, stop signs, city buildings, firetrucks and even a cemetery. For his grandchildren Allison and Austin, Fred bought them their own quads to drive. Robert and Fred always lived close by, visited often and enjoyed holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving together with family.

In his free time, Fred enjoyed watching football, especially his favorite team, the Michigan Wolverines. He liked listening to Big Band music and songs by Andre Rieu and Lawrence Welk. His favorite song was "Memories" from the hit musical, "Cats." He liked reading train or photography magazines. His favorite hobbies were building his railroads and photography. His camera was a Nikon. His favorite food was strawberry shortcake. He loved eating out with the family at buffets and his favorite drink was chocolate milk. When it came to family and friends, Fred cared about others, was willing to help, and always had some stories to tell. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh. There are so many memories, such as the anniversary celebration at the Curtain Call Theatre, seeing the Rockettes at the Orange County Performing Arts Center and Sunday breakfasts at Huffs. His final day was spent with the family he loved so very much. As the family was open and talked about every issue in life, Fred's choice was cremation. In fact, it was his wish to have his cremated remains thrown off the back of a firetruck on the way to a fire call. Fred Lemon will be remembered for being kind, thoughtful and loyal. His advice would be to make him proud and do the right thing. Donna will miss his companionship. Robert will miss his advice. And, Fred will miss everything about him. All of his family and friends will miss his presence.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents and nephew Jerry. He is remembered by his loving wife Donna; son Fred; son Robert and his wife Wendy; grandchildren Amanda, Allison and Austin; brother David and his wife Janet; sister-in-law Marie and her husband Milton De Vries; sister-in-law Irene and her husband Al Natale; nieces & nephews Diane, Cheryl, Brett, Jim, Nancy, Carol, Tommy and Joan; and close friends Bob Forbes, Ed Washauer and Bob Pinfield.

Memorial donations are welcome in Fred's name to the American Heart Association, www.AmericanHeart.org.

May Frederick Austin Lemon rest in peace…