I know exactly who they are talking about... And no, he never bought me beer.
Community asked to help with funeral expenses for 'Navigator'
Homeless man to be buried Thursday
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER
November 5, 2007 - 3:13PM
The homeless man who came to be known in Yuma County as the "Navigator" will be buried on Thursday and the attorney who became involved in his case is asking for help to raise enough money to cover the costs. Attorney Richard Edgar, who works for the law firm of Bowman and Smith, said he needs about $6,000 more in donations to pay for Sonny Dean Frazer's funeral. To help raise that money, Edgar said he has set up a fund at First Yuma Bank under the name "In remembrance of Sonny Frazer," and said he would appreciate donations of any amount. Edgar said he picked out a plot for Frazer at Desert Lawn earlier this week. It is located in the veteran's section of the cemetery. "He served in the U.S. Navy and will be given a military burial," Edgar said. Frazier, 65, of Yuma, died Oct. 19, 2007, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Phoenix. He was born Feb. 24, 1942 and worked with the railroad in addition to being a veteran of the Navy. Edgar became involved in Frazer's case when the "Navigator" was arrested in February 2004 by Yuma County sheriff's deputies. He had one of the attorney's business cards in his pocket, so jail officials called him. Frazer first came to the attention of Foothills residents in the summer of 2003. At first, he sat atop an overturned bucket at the Fortuna Road I-8 exchange. He later acquired a folding chair and an umbrella to shield himself from the sun, and periodically changed his spot between the northeast and southeast corners. He identified himself to passers-by as the "Navigator." As paper and other refuse accumulated at the spot he occupied, Frazer was cited for littering on three separate occasions and eventually arrested by deputies. Misdemeanor littering charges were eventually dismissed when Edgar had Frazer declared mentally incompetent to stand trial and committed to Excel for care, where he remained until his death.
Community asked to help with funeral expenses for 'Navigator'
Homeless man to be buried Thursday
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER
November 5, 2007 - 3:13PM
The homeless man who came to be known in Yuma County as the "Navigator" will be buried on Thursday and the attorney who became involved in his case is asking for help to raise enough money to cover the costs. Attorney Richard Edgar, who works for the law firm of Bowman and Smith, said he needs about $6,000 more in donations to pay for Sonny Dean Frazer's funeral. To help raise that money, Edgar said he has set up a fund at First Yuma Bank under the name "In remembrance of Sonny Frazer," and said he would appreciate donations of any amount. Edgar said he picked out a plot for Frazer at Desert Lawn earlier this week. It is located in the veteran's section of the cemetery. "He served in the U.S. Navy and will be given a military burial," Edgar said. Frazier, 65, of Yuma, died Oct. 19, 2007, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Phoenix. He was born Feb. 24, 1942 and worked with the railroad in addition to being a veteran of the Navy. Edgar became involved in Frazer's case when the "Navigator" was arrested in February 2004 by Yuma County sheriff's deputies. He had one of the attorney's business cards in his pocket, so jail officials called him. Frazer first came to the attention of Foothills residents in the summer of 2003. At first, he sat atop an overturned bucket at the Fortuna Road I-8 exchange. He later acquired a folding chair and an umbrella to shield himself from the sun, and periodically changed his spot between the northeast and southeast corners. He identified himself to passers-by as the "Navigator." As paper and other refuse accumulated at the spot he occupied, Frazer was cited for littering on three separate occasions and eventually arrested by deputies. Misdemeanor littering charges were eventually dismissed when Edgar had Frazer declared mentally incompetent to stand trial and committed to Excel for care, where he remained until his death.
