Wm. Erwin Fryman

1936-2021

William Erwin, “Jack” in Missouri and “Bill” in Texas, Fryman was born on Ottery Creek in Iron County on October 4, 1936, the third son of his late parents, Samuel Lee and Beulah Frances (Black) Fryman. Jack passed on to his heavenly home to be with his parents and brothers, Edwin and Elwin, on December 6, 2021 having reached the age of 85 years and two months from the hospital in Dallas, Texas

He leaves the following to mourn his passing. His beloved wife of 34 years, Deena M (Kerr) Fryman whom he married on July 1, 1987. His two children Gregory Thomas Fryman, Grand Prairie, Texas and Jennifer Allison Fryman, Kemp, Texas. His two step-children, Rhett (Kelli) Lax and family, Midland, Texas and Jered (Tara) Lax and family of Glenn Heights, Texas.

His oldest sister Delores & husband Norm Williams of Chesterfield, brother Jerry & wife Pam (Green) Fryman of St. Louis, and his youngest sister Karen Sue Fortner (late husband John) of Gibsonton, FL. His sisters-in-law, Mickey (Patterson) Fryman (Edwin), St. Louis County and Millie (Jinkerson) Fryman (Elwin) of St. Charles. His brother-in-law Royce and Vicki Kerr and family of Abilene, Texas, He is leaving many nieces, nephews and step-grandchildren who will really miss him as well as his special caretaker, Brenda Doster, who lovingly cared for him after his stroke.

Jack was a much loved, well-liked charming person. He also happened to be an exceptional basketball player. So good, in fact, he was given a college scholarship to play basketball long after graduating in 1955 from Valley High School in Caledonia and setting many of the school’s scoring records.The scholarship was offered to him from a local coach, Steven “Bud” Richards who was then coaching at Sul Ross State in Alpine, Texas. Jack had worked in St. Louis, joined the U.S. Army and then he played college ball in The Lone Star Conference. He was good at all around sports which included baseball for Frank Wallis’s local Rebels team. He maybe was not a par-shooter at golf, but at hunting he was a sharp-shooter with a 22 rifle and in Texas nailed many deer with his 30-06 rifle. Jack loved animals and lovingly cared for a multitude of dogs and cats, even a pet raccoon named Mabel.

After college, in 1967 Jack went to work for Uniroyal, met and married Sheila Taylor of Dyersburg, TN. Sheila is the mother of his two children Greg born in Jackson, TN and Allison in Dallas, Texas.

Jack established Superior Striping Service, a family business in 1973, that he ran in Garland, Texas until the early 2000’s when family members took over due to his health and mobility issues.

His desire was to be cremated and some of his ashes sprinkled near the old chicken house where he was born on the Black Family Farm on Ottery Creek in Iron County.

A Missouri memorial service will be presented to celebrate Jack’s life at a later date to be determined, Interment will be at the Ottery Community Cemetery, Belleview.