LAFRANK'S LIFE NOTES

LaFrank Newell was born in Portland, Oregon on July 3, 1956, to the late Frank Newell and Doris Jean Dorton. LaFrank was as unique as his name, living a vivid, passionate, and full life. He was smart, accomplished and deeply loved. LaFrank passed away at the age of 68 on May 22, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona.

LaFrank is survived by his loving wife, Toni Belcher of 20 years. LaFrank found Toni "again for the first time" in 1999 having briefly dated her in high school in 1973. Their paths had diverged for over 25 years. They reunited, married in 2005, and built a new life forged from the young love they shared in high school.

LaFrank was a proud father. He is survived by his three talented daughters, Teya Williams, Andrea Whitman and her husband Russ Whitman, Jennifer Newell and her partner Branden Graves, plus his mother-in-love Jacquelyn Belcher and sister-in-love Terri Belcher.

LaFrank is a grandfather to Tyler, Braden, and Nash Whitman. Tyler and Grace Whitman blessed LaFrank with a great granddaughter, Naomi in 2024. LaFrank is also survived by his brothers Untonia Lee Newell and Anthony Newell.

Last but not least, LaFrank is survived by Smokie, a 7-pound grey miniature poodle LaFrank gave to Toni so she would never be lonely.

Because LaFrank's life touched so many people in so many places, we encourage you to gather and celebrate his love of life in a place that honors your memory of him. The immediate family will hold an intimate memorial this Fall to spread his ashes in the scenic Colombia River near the Gorge in eastern Washington State.

LaFrank was keenly aware of the need to help children and gave generously to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. We ask that no flowers be sent, but that you follow LaFrank's example and give generously to charities of your choice.

Please honor LaFrank by going to greenvalleymortuary.net and click on "Obituaries" to sign the guestbook, share photos of your memories of him, and write stories about this amazing unique soul.

LAFRANK'S LEGACY NOTES

LaFrank grew up in Seattle, Washington. As a Black youth he was influenced by the city's significant economic, social, and cultural changes—the growing prominence of the Boeing Company, the Civil Rights Movement that emerged in defiance of segregation and in support of equity and equality, the anti-war movement, student activism, the cultural, innovative, technological, industrial, and global exchange of the World's Fair, and the acquisition of Seattle's first major league sports franchise – the SuperSonics. These were among the events that produced the incredible man he would become.

After graduating from Roosevelt High School in Seattle, Washington in 1974, LaFrank proudly served his country by joining the Air Force in 1975. He left the military and joined the Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington, in 1979 becoming the first Black graduate of the Model Maker Apprenticeship Program in 1984. Inspired by his experience in the Boeing apprenticeship program, LaFrank chaired the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council under Governor Gary Locke passing a 2001 bill that rewrote existing rules relating to apprenticeships making paid career-path programs more accessible.

Dedicated to disciplines in operational management, LaFrank completed training in 2002 from Shingijutsu Corporation in the disciplines of Kaizen and Super Chaku Chaku. LaFrank continued his education earning a BA of Science in Business Management in 2003 and an MA in Organizational Management in 2005. LaFrank used his education and training to help propel him into executive management positions.

After he left the Boeing Corporation, LaFrank worked for the Terex Corporation as Director of Operations. He later joined the Caterpillar Company as a Global Operations Director in 2006, travelling the globe. His expertise in Lean Manufacturing was highly regarded and sought after, even after he retired.

While at Caterpillar, LaFrank met the dynamic men of Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men recognizing the need for a strong bond of brotherhood among African descendants in this country. LaFrank loved the brotherhood, the friendships he forged, and the dedication to fund raising, community engagement and civic action. LaFrank distinguished himself by his participation and by being the oldest to pledge in the Alpha Phi Alpha organization.

LAFRANK'S LOVE NOTES

LaFrank retired from Caterpillar in 2013 to the home he and his wife, Toni, built in Green Valley, Arizona. LaFrank loved Arizona's heat, sun, monsoons, and laid-back lifestyle. And while LaFrank also loved his hometown Seattle's water culture, food scene, and bustling international diversity, he just did not like the cold and rain. So, he retired to Arizona.

Much of LaFrank's retirement was filled with golfing and everything that goes along with golf – golf clubs, golf bags, golf towels, golf watches, golf carts, golf range finders, golf gadgets, golf tees, golf clothing, golf shoes, golf ball markers, golf tournaments, golf trophies, and his golf buddies. To his delight, LaFrank achieved a hole-in-one in 2019.

LaFrank loved food. His tastes ran from the delicacies of Asian cuisine to downhome barbeque. He enjoyed fine dining as well as "greasy spoons."  LaFrank embraced Taco Tuesdays, Fish Fridays, fried chicken on Sundays. He also loved to cook, creating masterful creole-inspired meals and more. LaFrank also loved to entertain friends and family at home, hosting everything from intimate gatherings to enormous celebrations. He hosted chili cookoffs, barbeques, and even a Halloween party.

LaFrank loved playing two games, Bid Whist and Dominos. He was formidable at both. But what he absolutely loved more than the games themselves was "playing the dozens" a playful sometimes bruising verbal combat that was as much about distraction as it was about fun banter. He was really good at that!

LaFrank also loved listening to music from such artists as George Duke (Muir Woods Suite, Montreux 1993), Dave Mathews (Crash Into Me), Stevie Wonder (I Wish), Anita Baker (Rapture), Sade (Diamond Life), Stevie Ray Von (My Pride & Joy), Jimmy Hendrix, (Little Wings), SOS Band (High Hopes), Janet Jackson (Pleasure Principle), Norah Jones (It's Just the Nearness of You), Erica Badu (Next Lifetime), Maze with Frankie Beverly (The Golden Time of Day), Prince (Get on the Boat) and so many others. He and Toni went to see Prince in Chicago, Illinois scoring exclusive VIP seats three rows back from one of the most dynamic and influential musicians of our time.

LaFrank loved fishing, especially fishing for crappies, a fresh water panfish. As a youth and young man, he loved going to eastern Washington State to fish. In his early days he fished with his mother at Moses Lake in eastern Washington. As a young father, he took his daughters fishing as well. Even in Arizona, he shared his enthusiasm for fishing with his wife and friends.

LaFrank also loved, loved, loved movies. He loved all kinds of movie genres - action, spy, film noir, westerns, comedy, drama, dramas, sci-fi, superhero, thrillers, satires, mystery, and more. LaFrank loved the Godfather, The Matrix, Downton Abbey, Guardians of the Galaxy, As Good As it Gets, No Country for Old Men, 007 James Bond, Iron Man, SwordFish, The Sixth Sense, The Usual Suspects, The Hangover, Star Trek, Fargo, Peaky Blinders, The Thomas Crown Affair and so many more.

Yes, LaFrank loved many things. But in the end, LaFrank truly loved his family with his whole heart and soul. He loved his wife. He loved his children and their children. He loved friends, especially friends who were family. Words cannot express how much this remarkable man will be missed. To his family and friends, he was and will always be, the man, the myth, the legend.

Again, please honor LaFrank by going to greenvalleymortuary.net and click on Obituary to learn more about his remarkable life, sign the guest book, share photos, and write stories about this amazing unique soul.