Born in Squires, Missouri John Vernon Frye passed away on Monday evening, Oct. 15, 2007. He was at home, surrounded by his family, when he quietly left. He was 77 years old, born May 21, 1930, the son of John Burl and Hazel Esther (Robertson) Frye.
Born in Squires, Missouri, and with intermittent moves to Kansas and California, John grew up in Ava, graduating from Ava High School in 1949. After marrying his high school sweetheart, Dana, in August of 1949, John worked for Kraft Foods.
Following his dream, he became a Missouri Conservation Agent in 1955. First in Barton County, John rose through the ranks as district supervisor, regional supervisor and finally assistant chief of the Protection Section out of the state office in Jefferson City. His 37 years with the Missouri Department of Conservation were the source of many entertaining stories and he took great pride in his achievements and those of his colleagues.
While raising his family in Cassville, John was initiated into the Pythagoras Lodge No. 383 as a Mason. He later became the youngest grand master to serve this lodge. He attended the Missouri Grand Lodge Meeting in 1962 with Harry S Truman.
John was also ordained as a deacon in the Centertown Baptist Church and his education included a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Lincoln University in Jefferson City.
John Frye was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Georgia Frye Porter; his son, John Keith Frye; and his grandson, Joshua Seth Harris.
John is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Dana Garrison Frye; his sons, Norman Timothy Frye (Lou Ann Frye), Matthew Burl Frye (Kelly Frye); his daughter, Dana Katherine Martin; one sister, Emogene Price, Ava; his granddaughter Amanda Frye Vauble (Doug Vauble); and other grandchildren, Nathaniel David Harris, Dana Harris Schultz (Scott Schultz), Bethany Frye Byrd (Stephen Byrd), Miranda Joelle Martin, and Quincy Matthew Frye; and three great-grandchildren, Ashlyn Makenzie Vauble, Cameron Joshua Byrd, and Brayden Douglas Vauble.
Services will be at 11 a.m. today (Thursday) at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with Pastors E. Frank Whitney, Oren Alcorn and Scott Spurling officiating. Interment will follow in the Ava Cemetery with honors by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
The family requests memorials to Gideons International or Lebanon Baptist Church in McGirk, Mo., in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneral home.com.
