Dean Packer

Dean Packer, age 88, of Twin Falls, Idaho passed away at his home on June 16th, 2021, of heart complications.
Dean was born in Oklahoma on March 25th, 1933. At the age of 14, he moved with his family to Chowchilla, California where he stayed until enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1951. He served 4 years in the Navy with duty assignments on Rhine River Patrol in Germany and on a Troop Transport Ship to and from the US mainland across the Atlantic.

Dean married Phyllis, his wife of 70 years, who he met in Chowchilla while still in the Navy. They stayed in California after his service, where he held several positions in the electronics field. Employers included TV Repair Shops, Western Electric Telephone Co. and most notably the Lawrence Radiation Lab in Livermore. While at the Lab he worked directly with Chemist and Physicists planning and building working models for their experiments concerning power requirements, mechanical structure and equipment installation.

Dean’s love of nature, fishing, hunting and the outdoors became his study for the beautiful paintings he created as the highly regarded self-taught Artist he evolved into. He always carried a camera wherever he visited. In 1976, he left his mainstream career path and became a full time Professional Artist. This was his true calling. He and Phyllis have lived in beautiful places such as Santa Fe, NM, Grand Junction, CO and lastly chose to settle in Twin Falls, ID. His paintings were a mixed product of his memories and his present surroundings. He was represented by galleries in Carmel, CA, Los Olivos, CA, Scottsdale, AZ and Santa Fe, NM. He loved giving art lessons to anyone who was interested. During his career, he won numerous art show awards and was invited to participate in the Peppertree Ranch Art Show in Los Olivos, CA.

Dean had a sense of humor that showed itself regularly; harmless pranks and jokes were common with him. He liked to make his own greeting cards for family members using their likeness and making it humorous. Anything to make someone laugh, we will miss his humor!
Cooking for family and friends was something he enjoyed, always using his own recipe that turned out particularly good. He, also, taught himself to play the banjo and guitar, our family enjoyed the music he picked!

Dean is preceded in death by his son Mike Packer of Crescent City, CA. He is, also, preceded in death by his 6 siblings.

Dean is survived by his wife, Phyllis Packer of Twin Falls, ID, his son Mark Packer of Modesto, CA, daughter Sheila (Laurence) Mendoza San Andreas, CA and grandchildren Marianne (Jessie) Jensen, Mariah (Matt) Kuntz of Valley Springs, CA, Joslynn Packer, Jessica Packer, Ceres, CA, Meghan McCoy of Augusta, Georgia and great-grandson Kase Kuntz of Valley Springs, CA and two great-grandchildren Stella and Buster McCoy of Georgia.

In addition those wishing to share memories and condolences my do so on Dean's page at www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home.