May 29, 2013

Retired funeral director served in U.S. Marine Corps

Lewis Morrison Frye Jr., 88, of Venice, Fla., formerly of Monongahela, died Sunday, May 26, 2013.

He was born March 20, 1925, in New Eagle, a son of the late Lewis Morrison and Gladys DeWalt Frye.

Mr. Frye was a 1943 graduate of Monongahela High School. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and obtained the rank of sergeant, serving in both World War II and the Korean War. After the war, he attended Waynesburg College and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, receiving his funeral director license in 1949.

He worked along with his father at their business, L.M. Frye Funeral Home, until his father passed away in 1963. He was an excellent business man and very active in Monongahela civic activities. He retired to Venice in 1990.

Mr. Frye’s memberships include Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Venice, Henry M. Phillips Lodge 337 Free and Accepted Masons in Monongahela, Syria Shriners, AAONMS of Pittsburgh, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8118 of Florida, former member of the Monongahela Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, life member of BPOE Lodge 455, American Legion Frank Downer Post 302 and the Monongahela Valley Country Club.

He enjoyed playing golf with the guys, hunting and fishing, taking walks on the beach, reading a good book and always being around people. His good-natured spirit was legendary.

Surviving are three sons, Lewis M. Frye III and wife Yvonne of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Robert O. Frye and wife Sandra of Willoughby, Ohio, and Patrick R. Frye of Venice; eight grandchildren, Meesha, Aja, Haley, Kate, Spencer, Leland, Lindsey and Lewis IV; and five great-grandchildren.

Deceased are his wife, Dorothy A. Brownfield Frye, who died February 14, 2012; his mother, Gladys Frye in December 1978; his father, Lewis Frye in November 1963; and a sister, Maxine Morrison in 1958.

Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m Sunday in Frye Funeral Home Inc., 427 West Main Street, Monongahela, where prayers will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 3, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Damien of Molokai Parish, Transfiguration Church, Monongahela, with the Rev. William Terza as celebrant. Committal services and interment will follow in Monongahela Cemetery with full military honors accorded at the grave by the U.S. Marine Veterans.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Mon Valley Honor Guard and Firing Squad will conduct services at 7 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home, and Henry M. Phillips Lodge 337 F&AM will conduct services at 7 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. Condolences may be made to the family at www.fryefuneralhome.com.