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Family and friends are mourning the loss of well-known businessman and community volunteer Don Morehouse, who drowned Saturday while competing in a triathlon.
Morehouse was President and CEO of Slaymaker Group, which owns all the TGI Friday's and Winger's Restaurants in Utah and Idaho. Those who knew Morehouse say he was dedicated to his work, but more importantly, he was a dedicated family man and friend.
Morehouse leaves behind a wife, four children, seven grandchildren and countless friends. Family members say he was a busy man but always managed to go above and beyond for those he loved.
His wife, Fairy Morehouse, said, "If Don was in the room and you didn't get a smile and a hug, there would be something wrong."
By age 60, Morehouse accomplished success by all definitions of the word. Living in Provo, Don was a CEO and an athlete, he traveled, and he helped build a large, loving family. "I mean, there was nothing negative about him," Fairy said.
Sunday, his wife, along with friends and family, shared stories about Don's life. He was the perfect husband, the perfect grandfather and the perfect father and a perfect friend," Fairy said.
Morehouse died Saturday while competing in the Spudman Triathlon in Burley, Idaho. During the swimming portion of the race, witnesses say they heard Don call for help just before he disappeared under the water. Rescue crews were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
"He'd buy his books, and he'd read his books, and he'd do the training plan. And he was ready to finish and complete another project, another dream," his wife said.
Don's family says he was healthy, in remarkable shape and recently competed in a number of marathons. Why Don went underwater is still unknown, but he was able to touch the hearts of many before he passed.
"My grandson said, ‘He was going to come watch my game Tuesday.' I said I'll be at your game on Tuesday. We're just going to fill his shoes."
Nearly 2,000 people participated in the Spudman. Besides the swimming event, the competitors bike 40 kilometers and run 10 kilometers. A spokesman said this is the first fatality that has occurred in the Spudman's 22-year history. "We've had some people that have needed to be pulled out of the water or hang on to the side of a boat," he said, "but we've never had anything like this before," he said.
E-mail: wjohnson@ksl.com
