Lydia Lorraine Frye

LORRAINE FRYE

Lydia Lorraine Powell was born June 13, 1922, on a farm North of Montrose to L. Ira Powell and Ethyl Una Cole Powell and passed away May 25, 2008, at Riverview Manor in Oxford, Kansas, at the age of 85 years, 10 months, and 12 days.

Lorraine attended Jewell County schools in Montrose, Mankato and Burr Oak. She graduated from Burr Oak High School in 1939 and later took normal training. She then taught in country schools in Jewell County.

Lorraine married Doyle C. Dillon on July 16, 1941 at the Mitchell County courthouse. Doyle and Lorraine had three children: Gary Dolaine, Michael Doyle and Mary Louise. Doyle was killed in an airplane accident on June 7, 1957. On June 4, 1960, Lorraine married Francis Frye at the Burr Oak Methodist Church. Lorraine became the stepmother of Myra Jo Frye Zimmerman Bolt and Donald Royce Frye. Lorraine’s husband, “Frye,” died April 22, 1983. Lorraine was a very loving and involved wife, parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt and friend.

For 28 years, from 1954 to 1982, Lorraine worked in the Jewell County ASCS office in Mankato. After her retirement, she was briefly a librarian for the City of Mankato. Some of Lorraine’s interests and clubs were membership in the Mankato Garden Club for 22 years, Daughter’s of the American Revolution, Hospice, Community Service Advisor for the North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging, Inc., and was a very active member of the Harmony United Methodist Church and its women’s group. Lorraine was known as an avid flower gardener and was particularly proud of her hybrid Iris. Lorraine moved to an assisted living apartment in Winfield, Kansas near the home of her daughter, Mary, in 1999. She moved to nursing care in Oxford in June of 2006.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands Doyle Dillon and Francis Frye; her son, Gary; her step-son Don Frye; her step-son-in-law Steve Bolt; and two sisters, Alice McMurray and Phyllis Coast Soliday.

Survivors include her brother Lavon Powell of Phoenix, Arizona; sister Una Snowbarger of Hutchinson, Kansas; her son Michael Dillon and his wife Kay of Manhattan, Kansas; her daughter Mary Nichols and her husband Stan of Winfield, Kansas; her step-daughter Myra Bolt of Clearwater, Florida; her step-daughter-in-law Marjorie Frye of Salina, Kansas; 7 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, 6 step-great grandchildren, and 1 step-great-great grandchild as well as three sisters-in- law, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of Lorraine Frye’s life was held Thursday, May 29, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., at the Harmony United Methodist Church, Mankato, Kansas, with Pastor Dan Dempsey, and Mr. Kelly McNichols officiating. Organist was Pat Grout, who played for congregational hymns. Casket bearers were: Lloyd Johnson, Jacob Spencer, Derek Nichols, TIm Bumgarner, Robby Gardner, Doug McNichols, and Kelly McNichols. Interment followed in the Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, Kansas. Public visitation was at the Melby Mortuary, Wednesday, from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. The family invites family and friends to the Harmony United Methodist Church for fellowship and lunch following the interment service. Memorials can be made in care of Melby Funeral Home for Harry Hynes Hospice of Winfield or Harmony United Methodist Church in Mankato.