Edward "Eddy" Vernerd Flake

Edward Vernerd Flake, 74, went Home on May 11, 2021, in Pinetop, Arizona. He was born January 26, 1947, in Boise, Idaho to Robert Kenneth Flake, Sr. (1916-2007) and Mae Thomas Flake (1918-2004).

The public viewing and visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. to 10:45 A.M., Saturday, May 15, 2021, at the Buck Springs Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4075 Buck Springs Road in Pinetop, Arizona.  The funeral service will immediately follow at 11:00 A.M. (For those who wish to join the funeral service via Zoom Meeting, log into Zoom using the ID: 899 0952 0296). Following the funeral service at the church, there will be a family luncheon at the Flake Family home. The concluding service and interment will begin 11:00 A.M., Monday, May 17, 2021, at The City of Mesa Cemetery, 1212 N. Center Street in Mesa, Arizona. After the graveside service, there will be a family potluck at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 8161 S. Power Road in Queen Creek, Arizona. 

Eddy has one sister and four brothers: Nena Mae Flake (Darrel Pospisil [1940-2002]), Robert Kenneth Flake, Jr. (Anne Jones), Thomas Albert Flake [1951-2018] (Bonnie Heschke [1952-2010], Cheryl Moscrip), Daniel Steven Flake (Linda Richardson), Donald Owens Flake (Bridget Driggs). He is survived by his beloved wife of 51 ½ years, Lanny Sue Pospisil Flake, and 7 children: Robynne Kay Flake (Russell van der Werf), Scott Edward Flake (Suzanne Holdaway), Jessica Lee Flake (John Skiba), Jaremy James Flake (Tara Vorkink), Heidi Lynn Flake (Jeffrey Neeley), Karli Anne Flake, Ginny Sue Flake (Richard Rucker). He leaves behind 30 precious grandchildren.

Eddy spent the first 14 years of his life in Idaho. As a child he enjoyed farm life. He rode horses, milked cows, loved going to Hoppy’s Corner for treats, and had BB gun fights with his brothers.

At age 14, his family moved to Mexico City, Mexico where his dad was called to a service mission building churches and schools.

He graduated from Mesa High School in 1965. After graduation he attended Brigham Young University, Mesa Community College, Phoenix Community College, and Arizona State University. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1966-1968 in Chile. This was a defining time in his life that he always looked back on with fondness. His mission experience became the impetus for his love of Jesus Christ and service to Him for the remainder of his life.

He met Lanny, his bride to be, when he was a junior in high school and she was in the 8th grade. Lanny’s brother and Eddy’s sister married each other while Eddy was serving his mission. After returning home Eddy and Lanny began dating and were married on December 20, 1969, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. In September of 1970, they left their first home in Tempe, Arizona and moved to San Francisco, California where Eddy completed his doctoral studies in podiatry at The California College of Podiatric Medicine. While in San Francisco they had their first two children – Robynne in 1971 and Scott in 1973.

After graduation, Eddy completed his podiatric residency at Lakewood General Hospital in California. He began his podiatry career opening three practices in Orange County. He trained under world renowned orthopedist/podiatrist Dr. Dale W. Austin, MD/DPM. He acquired a pilot’s license and purchased his first of three airplanes to fly from Orange County to Van Nuys, California. This training lasted for 6 years during which time he commuted over 200,000 miles. While living in Orange County they added a third child, Jessica, in 1976.

In 1977 they found a little haven in Fallbrook, California (San Diego County). He began a solo practice in Fallbrook while continuing to train with Dr. Austin three days a week. Jaremy (1979), Heidi (1982), and Karli (1985) all joined the family. Eddy and Dr. Austin developed a modification to the STA-peg Arthroereisis which was widely used in podiatry for many years.

In December 1987, Eddy and Lanny moved their family to Pinetop, Arizona. Ginny, their last child, was born in 1988. Eddy opened four practices traveling throughout the White Mountains, building his well-loved reputation as Dr. Flake. His patients and staff adored him and appreciated his passion, integrity, selflessness, work ethic, sincerity, and genuine, kind spirit. He was considered a beloved mentor to many in the community in both his personal and professional life. He retired after 34 years in 2008. Eddy and Lanny loved raising their family in this beautiful small mountain community.

In 2009, Eddy and Lanny served a service mission at the Mormon Handcart Historic Sites in Wyoming.

Complications from kidney stones and prostate cancer led to nine years of severe chronic pain. The cancer was successfully treated in 2016 at the Loma Linda University Cancer Center where he and Lanny spent nine weeks. There they developed deep friendships with many others in the same treatment program. He was gifted with five additional years, thanks to the proton therapy he received there. In February 2021, his aggressive cancer returned and quickly metastasized to bone cancer. He had a heart attack in mid-March 2021, and began in-home hospice care with Hospice Compassus. Not wanting to be defined by these diagnoses, he chose to keep these recent complications largely private. In his final few months he was able to see virtually all of his posterity. He passed quickly and peacefully surrounded by his wife, children, some of their spouses, and several grandchildren on Tuesday morning, May 11, 2021.

Eddy felt a deep connection to people and places. He made great friends wherever he went, whether traveling or at the grocery store. He had an innate ability to connect deeply with people in a very short time. He was genuinely interested in people around him and their lives. He loved widely and deeply, and this was felt by all who came in contact with him.

Some of his favorite places to spend time: the ranch that his grandfather homesteaded in Aripine, Arizona; the Sierra Nevada Mountains; the pioneer areas near Hole in the Rock in southern Utah. Lake Powell was a family favorite for over 30 years. Eddy, Lanny, and their family enjoyed getting away and connecting in their travel trailer and fifth wheel. He loved his vehicles, especially his Bobcat and motorcycle. He spent many hours enjoying the beauty of the earth on motorcycle rides. He could never sit still and loved having projects. He especially loved working in his Bobcat and backhoe. He provided countless hours of service on this equipment for many people.

His children remember his long talks, stories, spontaneous teaching moments, great sense of adventure, and the advice he gave stemming from his own experiences. In his later years he and Lanny loved visiting their family members and friends across the United States.

His grandchildren remember the Family Rules he instilled: 1. Safety 2. What can I do to help? 3. Have fun!!! 4. Be grateful 5. Be kind. Eddy was a firm believer in “Cousin Power”.

He was an active member in his church community and spent much of his life ministering to and serving others. He especially loved working with the youth. Though he would not want to be known as such, he was a wonderful leader who had a great impact on many people’s lives.

His family will miss him terribly, but feel peace knowing he greatly anticipated going Home after many years of severe pain. In the end, he prioritized expressing his great love and appreciation for his dear wife and eternal companion, Lanny. He will be remembered for his Christlike example of love for everyone, gratitude, friendship, service, and kindness. Eddy’s greatest desire would be to share his testimony that there is a dear kind Father in Heaven who loves us all.

“Of all the joy I’ve ever known, the most was felt when going home!”