Robert Dewey Charles Fox

Robert Dewey Charles Fox passed away May 17, 2026, in Tooele, Utah. He was surrounded by many family members who love him deeply. He will be missed beyond comprehension.

Robert was born October 9, 1941, to Robert E. L. and Betty Mae (Bernard) Fox at the LDS hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was known as Dewey, Duke, and then Bob, but his favorite name was “Grandpa.” Dewey spent his childhood in Tooele County from Bauer to Erda where he learned the value of true work ethics, and the love of horses. He spent time with his father hunting, fishing and worked side by side with him where he was able to buy his first car. His first love was his mother whom he cherished his whole life. He spoke of her always with endearment and told stories of how they would perform duets singing with the bands. He always took time to visit her and loved her dearly. Bob attended Tooele High School and lived with his grandparents in the summers where he worked for Salt Lake City parks and rec. He enlisted in the US Army at 17 and served two years in Germany as a lineman. His enlistment was extended for the Bay of Pigs conflict.

He then moved to California where he married his wife, Renee Hayslett, later divorced, and had two boys of his own and raised 4 stepsons who call him Dad. He returned to Tooele in the 1970’s where he made a home for his family in Erda and began riding with the Bit & Spur riding club. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Fraternal Order of Eagles.

On June 10, 1978, he married Rosalie Wrathall Cunningham, and gained a daughter. They spent 43 years together before her passing and were very active in the community.

During his time in Germany, dad had a son who he lost track of over the years. He searched for him periodically to no avail. In 2012 his son, Michael, reached out after finding out about dad, and they were reunited. Michael and his wife Doris, children and grandchildren, have visited throughout the years. We are thinking of them and keeping them in our thoughts through this loss.

Dad’s children have been spread throughout the states and Germany, but he loved when they visited whether it was a gathering or a drop-in visit. He took every chance to visit them in California especially if there was a new grand baby. It was always a great time when all his children were together.

While in California, he met Raymond Beverage and his wife Peggy who quickly became his best friends for life. He and Raymond were fishing buddies and would go to Lake Elizabeth regularly and go deep-sea fishing. Raymond and Peggy would meet up with him and Rose in Minersville or St. George for a week of fishing, then they would go meet up with them in California and travel around the coast. Dad loved Minersville and would come in from a morning of fishing and make breakfast with trout on the grill. He taught all the grandchildren to fish and each day they were able to go fishing in the afternoon on the boat. Over the years, several friends and family were invited to go fishing on Quail Lake. The boat is still in the family, although it won’t be the same without dad. In the mid-nineties, dad and mom bought a place in St. George. It was his place to go to get away from everyday life, and to fish. We made an annual trip that brought Raymond, Peggy, and family together for a week and we looked forward to it every year.

Dad received his first horse when he was 12 and was a true cowboy in every sense. Always a gentleman, true to his word, loyal and respected. He went to work as a teenager for Norm Bunn in Stockton so he could herd cows. He was a leader, organizer, competitor, and mentor to others who shared his love of riding, gathering and competing. He loved trail rides, roping, club riding competitions, and finally chariot racing. He brought team-roping back to the Bit and Spur where he and his best-friend Monty Warr would team up where dad was always the “heeler.” They made a great team. Heeler is a tough assignment, but dad never shied away from a challenge. He would spend late nights under the lights roping with many friends. He was president of the Bit & Spur in 1986. He began running chariots in 1989 and had several teams who took him to the World Chariot Championships and placed at world throughout the next 20 years. Special memories were made with his son Chuck as “Fox and Son” for several years. He had a special crew that got them to the gates, in the gates and down the track. They were all the best friends anyone could have. He helped raise colts with his wife, Rosalie. One of those colts, Baby, remains with his granddaughter and Baby has a new colt of her own. He taught his daughter Candy, granddaughters Chasity and Lacy, and his special niece Jennie to ride and compete, along with many other kids in the junior clubs. He made sure that they had some of the best horses. Although when Chasity fell off her pony when she was 2, she told grandpa that he bucked her off, but she went on to ride their pride and joy Shojet. Dad made sure that they rode in many parades and competitions throughout the state.

He has so many buckles and trophies, but the greatest honor was in 2013 when he was chosen as the Grand Marshall for the 4th of July celebrations and rodeo. His family and friends gathered to celebrate in this recognition with love and pride for the man they called husband, brother, dad, grandpa, and friend.

Bob was a mechanic all his life. Trusted and respected, he opened his business Fox’s Auto Repair in 1982. He treated his customers as family and friends. I remember many days of friends gathering in the shop to have coffee and donuts, or a beer after work on Fridays. All were welcome to stay and visit. His shop was built with the help of a customer who was so impressed by his work and business acumen, that he invested in dad to get the property and building established and the rest is history. People traveled from surrounding counties to bring their vehicles. He also held several contracts with GSA and repaired vehicles for the federal government. After “retiring” dad continued to work for others and then opened Fox’s Auto Repair in Rush Valley where customers would drive the extra miles to have dad work on their cars. With the help of his granddaughter Lacy, he was able to repair vehicles up until January 2021 when he was 79. He loved teaching and working with her and making her pancakes and eggs for breakfast. She loved helping grandpa, even if it was bitter cold or scorching hot, and she has a wealth of knowledge to carry on not only in auto repair, but with her shared love of horses.

Duke is preceded in death by his wife, Rosalie Fox; parents Robert and Betty Fox; sister Carol Uyeda; brothers Jack Fox and Bobby Fox; stepsons Brent Hayslett and Paul Hayslett; grandchildren Matthew Hayslett, Cody Fox, and Heather Hayslett; and nephews Michael Uyeda, Michael Holbert, and Max Young Jr.

He is survived by his sisters Ellen Crowton and Cathy (Max) Young; children Michael (Doris) Deisroth, Curtis Fox, Charles (Deanna) Fox, Tom (Celia) Hayslett, Rex Hayslett, and Candy (Sam) Cunningham; special nephew Shane Warr; 22 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 27th, 2026, at Tate Mortuary, 110 South Main Street, Tooele, UT, at 11:00 am. A viewing will be held on Tuesday, May 26th, 2026, at Tate Mortuary from 6:00-8:00pm and prior to the service from 9:30-10:45am. Interment at the Tooele City Cemetery.

For those unable to attend in person, a livestream will be available on Robert’s obituary page at tatemortuary.com

A luncheon will follow the graveside at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 50 S 1st St, Tooele.

Special thanks to Kylee and staff at Mountain West Medical Center ER, to his friend Tracey and all his friends that took the time to visit him.