Allan Peirce Dean
1947 - 2022
Allan Peirce Dean was born August 6, 1947, nine months after Charles Edwin Dean Jr. returned from World War II to his wife, Margaret Peirce Dean, and their three-year-old son, Robert Charles Dean. Allan was the cutest baby ever, so cute that a photography studio on University Avenue in Provo kept an enlarged sample of their work in the front window for years. The subject was 18-month-old Allan.
The little family lived in the downstairs apartment of his Dean grandparents on 7th East close to the BYU campus while his dad got a master's in physics and joined the BYU faculty in 1949.
Allan's first memory was playing on the floor with toys while his mother ironed, and listened and cheered for BYU basketball being broadcast on the radio. Margaret was the only person with more Cougar enthusiasm than Allan. He learned at home.
Allan grew and started kindergarten at Wasatch Elementary. Soon the family left their home on 7th North for Ann Arbor, Michigan, where his father continued his education at the University of Michigan. Many of the Dean family memories and stories revolved around the Ann Arbor years and their little ward made up mostly of graduate students and their families from Utah. Allan was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while in Ann Arbor.
In 1959, the Deans returned to Provo and Edwin's position on faculty. Pretty sure Allan was the cutest boy in the 6th grade. He was one of Provo High's class of 1965 and voted Best Looking Legs in his senior class. Allan joined the National Guard, and soon after basic training, he was called to the California South Mission from 1966 to 1968.
He married Lola Chesley in the Mesa Arizona Temple in 1969. With three great children in tow, they made their home in Tempe, Arizona. While there, Allan graduated from Arizona State University, but he never cheered for them, his heart was with the Cougars. While in Tempe, Allan was the best Scoutmaster and took a large bunch of boys on an overnight outing every month without fail! He didn't bring the mess back to his wife. Tidy, Allan was tidy. Allan loved sports and worked with the City of Tempe Parks and Recreation.
Eventually finding their way back to Provo, he and Lola made their home there since 2001. Mr. Mac employed Allan for many years, and later, Jos. A Banks. Allan was a clothes horse of the highest order. He enjoyed serving in the Provo Utah Temple and other ward callings.
His family is happy that their husband, father and grandfather is no longer burdened and weakened by the multiple sclerosis that robbed him of the energy he should have enjoyed, especially the last ten years. He has been tethered at home without strength to enjoy the activities he loved.
We would like to thank First Choice Hospice and most sincerely Allan's aide Kacey, who literally made it possible for Allan to remain at home these past twelve months. Thank you! What a blessing to pass into eternity in your own home!
Surviving Allan are his wife Lola Chesley Dean and three children: Chad Allan Dean and his wife Angela Binks of Provo, Valerie Dean Hernandez and her husband George Hernandez of West Lake Village, California and Jeff Dean of Mesa, Arizona. Five grandchildren: Ashton Dean Vecellio and her husband Joe Vecellio, Trevor Dean and his wife Valerie Stolp Dean, Colin Dean, Ryan Dean and Sloane Hernandez.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, August 27, 2022, at the Oak Hills 6th Ward Chapel, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1960 North 1500 East, Provo, Utah. Friends may visit with the family from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. prior to services. Interment at Provo City Cemetery.
— Berg Mortuary | 2022