Frederick Garrett Honeywell
December 5, 1945 – September 29, 2023

Fred Honeywell, 77, went to be with his Lord and Savior Friday, September 29, 2023. Fred was born in Wright City, Oklahoma, December 5, 1945, to Guy and Gladys Honeywell. He was one of nine children. Fred grew up in Sweet Home, Oregon after his family moved there when he was just two years old. Growing up in a small town, Fred met his future wife, Joy Geil, when they entered first grade. Two years after high school graduation, they married on October 22, 1966. Their daughter, Lori, was born in 1968. Fred pursued a wide variety of careers over his lifetime.

As a teen, Fred worked at the Rio theater alongside his best friend, Roy Gaskey. He joined the Sweet Home volunteer fire department at 21 years old where he faithfully served the community for 17 years. He worked for the Truax Oil plant, drove veneer truck for Sweet Home Veneer, and then changed course and bought The Man’s Shop, which was a men’s clothing store in Sweet Home. Fred enjoyed being a business owner in Sweet Home for over 10 years. In 1979 he sold his business and began working for Pacific Power in the weatherization department. He continued with Pacific Power in the distribution center and transferred to Wilsonville. Fred commuted for four years back and forth to Sweet Home so that his daughter could graduate high school with her friends. It was at this time, in his 40s, that Fred decided to go back to school and get his college degree. He then became a real estate agent and got his contractor’s license, building and selling homes in the Salem area for a number of years. Another new venture presented itself and Fred decided to go to work for the Oregon Department of Transportation as a Right of Way Agent, negotiating the purchases of properties for highway projects. Fred retired for the first time in 2005 to move to Colorado to be close to his daughter’s family, living in Fort Collins on a temporary assignment. Fred and Joy returned to the Salem area as Fred went back to work in Right of Way, this time for Washington County, alongside his good friend, Rod Bliss. He retired for the second time in 2010, moving to Medford, Oregon to be near their grandkids. They finally moved back to Keizer in 2016.

One of Fred’s great passions was buying and selling. He and Joy lived in 26 homes, owned 51 new vehicles, and 13 RVs. (Not to mention at least a dozen motorcycles and quads.) One of his favorite pastimes was camping, either around the Metolius River riding motorcycles, or on the Oregon coast watching the waves. Fred and Joy also enjoyed taking cruises. They visited Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Mexican Riviera, all multiple times. Family trips to Disneyland and Hawaii with the grandkids were treasured memories. He was a great card player, and many a weekend was spent around the kitchen table playing with friends and family. Being with family was Fred’s greatest joy. He shared a wealth of wisdom and joy with everyone who knew him. He was beloved as “Uncle Fred” by all his nieces and nephews.

Although cancer presented his biggest lifetime battle, he fought like the champion we all knew him to be, ever the overachiever.

He is survived by his wife, Joy, and daughter, Lori (husband Drake Toombs). He has two grandchildren, Kathryn and Michael. He is survived by a sister, Darlene Gaskey.

A memorial will be held Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 2:30pm at King’s Chapel , 65 W Grant St, Lebanon, Oregon. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com.