Francis Dean Wehr

April 8th, 1940-April 18th, 2025

85 years well lived.

Dean was a man of few words but sitting in the garage in his presence was always enough to somehow help you figure it out. For hours, you could be outside and soak in wisdom, and a fair amount of nonsense as well. Everyone who knew him can tell you a story about Dean and how they saw him take out a 30 pack in an evening and still manage to walk to the kitchen to eat a hamburger patty that Linda had waiting for him.

Dean loved his family and he loved “the Barn”. He talked often about retiring out there and he made it happen in 2008. He and Linda would share the remainder of her days and he would live the remainder of his there. The buffalo they raised are the perfect representation of Dean. Strong, curious, mysterious and gentle all at the same time.

It’s hard to summarize someone as iconic as Dean in so few words. To have known him is to have a piece of something so incredibly special inside you. Not every person had the honor of knowing this man. Not every person was privy to his humor, his expert “smart-assery”, his knowledge, his experience, or his degree in bullshitting. His smile would confuse you and keep you wondering if he was lying or genuine and that was all a part of the charm.

Francis Dean Wehr was born on April 8th, 1940 to Carl and Margaret Wehr of Stillwater, Oklahoma. He married Linda Sumpter in 1964 and they shared 52 of years of marriage before Linda passed in 2017. He passed away peacefully on April 18th, 2025. He had just celebrated his 85th birthday.

Dean served in the Army National Guard and handled secret documents and then enlisted in the Army where he was a sharp shooter. He was honorably discharged after 7 years of service on June 26th, 1963. After that, Dean worked for General Motors for 33 years and retired in 1994. He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Right Masonic Lodge Master Mason.

He enjoyed spending time working side jobs, on vehicles, and fixing various neighborhood bicycles. His degree in BS came in especially handy during this time in his life. In Dean’s world, if you were his neighbor, you were family and always welcome. His neighbors spent many evenings sitting and enjoying life with Dean, he enjoyed them just as much.

From their marriage, Linda and Dean created three extraordinary daughters Tonya “Tooter” Wehr (Bolton) and husband Craig, Angela “Popeye” Wehr, and Margaret “Boog” Wehr (Nelson) and husband Curt. They were all the pride and joy of their parents and if you ever spoke to them, you knew how much they adored their girls. Especially their daddy. He loved them without limits and supported them always. Those extraordinary women gave him 5 grandsons, Dean “Pal” Braudrick, Dillon “Skeet” Braudrick, Brian “Dude” Nelson, Drake “Goose”(and wife Laci) Nelson and Dane “Pup” Wehr. From those boys 2 great-grandsons Chase “Peanut” Braudrick and Remington Nelson have rounded out the family.

Beyond his immediate family he was loved and taken care of by the best siblings he could have asked for. Donna, Delpha, Darla, and David have continued to be an amazing support system and example of how families should love one another. There are many times we couldn’t have done anything without “the aunts”. He also spent the last few months at Lone Star RCH LLC, a home of Bridget and Ernest Jackson and we thank you for your love for our dad, your respect for our family and your willingness to create a space for our father to live with the best care we could have asked for.

He had many titles. One though encompasses the man he was: the Legend. The end of an era is upon us in the passing of Dean. There will forever be memories we hold of him: share them often. “Remember the time...” is something we all must continue to carry on. Share those stories of Dean, grab a Budweiser, give someone a nickname and a enjoy a laugh.

Rest in Peace, Dean-O. This Bud’s for you. Cheers.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Scottish Rite for Children Hospital in Dean’s name.

A visitation for Dean will be held Wednesday, April 30, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Grand Prairie Funeral Home, 733 Dalworth Street, Grand Prairie, TX 75050. A funeral service will follow at 12:00 PM. A committal service will take place at 2:00 PM at Grand Prairie Memorial Gardens, 3001 S Belt Line Road, Grand Prairie, TX 75052.

Friends and family may share condolences and memories at www.grandprairiefh.com