Clarice Estella McMillen Fry, lifetime resident of Comanche County, was the daughter of Felix and Martha Rapp McMillen. She was born on April 9, 1910 and died Dec. &, 1991. Her parents, one brother, and two sisters, preceded her in death.Clarice married Lester Fry, Sr., Feb. 27, 1929. He died on Jan. 23, 1982.
She is survived by three sisters: Louisa Kennedy of Greensburg; Flossie Trummel of Coldwater, and Mary Gill of Fresno, Calif.; eight children; Jo Matthews of Highland Park, Ill., Carol Swaney (Gene) of Independence, Mo., Eloise Fleming (Leon) of Wellsville, Barbara Delaney (J. B.) of Wilmore, Lester Fry, Jr., (Norine) of Wilmore; Bill Fry (Beth) of Albuquerque, N. M.; Doris Fry of Louisburg, Kans.; and John Fry (Brenda) of Coldwater. She also leaves 29 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren.
All 81 years of Clarice's life were spent in Comanche County. She grew up on a farm northeast of Wilmore. She attended Ridge Summit School and Wilmore High School.
She loved flowers and chickens and was noted for her hospitality as she never met a stranger. Her tatting and quilting skills brought beauty and warmth to her home. Clarice gave much to her community as an active member of the Wilmore Federated Church, Sunflower E. H. U. and Order of the Eastern Star. She served as Worthy Matron at the same time Lester served as Worthy Patron.
Clarice was a person who never left a job unfinished; she was self-sufficient but was never too busy to help or to listen.
Her life's joy was her children and grandchildren. It was evident she was equally loved by her grandchildren. They loved to go to Grandma Fry's house, which almost always smelled of chicken and noodles and homemade bread.
Clarice Fry is buried in the Wilmore Cemetery.
Felix Martin McMillen, father of Clarice (McMillen) Fry.
Martha Ellen (Rapp) Hopkins McMillen, mother of Clarice (McMillen) Fry.
Alice Grace (McMillen) Atteberry, sister of Clarice (McMillen) Fry.
Louisa Helen (McMillen) Kennedy, sister of Clarice (McMillen) Fry.
Flossie Melissa (McMillen) Trummel, sister of Clarice (McMillen) Fry.
Pvt. Martin McMillen, US Army, brother of Clarice (McMillen) Fry.
Hazel Ellen Hopkins, daughter of Martha Hopkins; step-daughter of Felix McMillen; half-sister of Clarice (McMillen) Fry.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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