Donald Joseph Frye Jr.

Donald Joseph Frye, Jr., 82, of Kerrville, passed away Saturday, August 9, 2025, at his residence. He was born on January 12, 1943 in San Antonio, TX, to Donald Joseph Frye and Alto Eva Dillon.

After graduating from Thomas Edison High School in 1960, he went to Texas A&M University (then it was College). Don was a member of the Corps of Cadets 'Ol Army Fighting Cock Company C-2. He graduated in 1964 with a Bachelors Degree in civil engineering.

In 1964 on a summer night at Crider's on the south fork of the Guadalupe River, he met Sherry Leatherman. The two were married in 1966. Don's Army guard unit was called to active duty in 1967 and he was stationed at Ft. Ord, CA near Monterrey Bay. It was there his civil affairs and PSYOPS unit prepared to assist in Vietnam.

Don settled with his wife and two sons, Gray and Bradley, in San Antonio where he was a design engineer for TXDOT. In 1980 he moved with his family to Kerrville and the Kerr County TXDOT. During his career as a structural design engineer in Kerr County he has a number of contributions including the upgraded low water crossing bridges at Indian Creek and G Street, the Loop 534 bridge over the Guadalupe River, and maintenance of I-10 and state roads through the county. He was the construction engineer of the bridge at San Geronimo Creek on 16 near Helotes. In the mid 1980s he was the on-site project engineer for the construction of the IH-10-1604 interchange.

Don was an avid runner and weight lifter, lettering at Texas A&M in weightlifting. One of his favorite things to do was to run up and down the visitor's side bleachers at Tivy stadium. He coached his sons' little league and senior league baseball teams. He was always reading and enjoyed reloading ammunition. He also spent time with everyone at the family ranch in Harwood, TX. There he hunted, fished, shot water moccasins, and helped his father with the cattle.

He is survived by his wife, Sherry of 59 years; son, Gray and wife Lorena; son, Bradley; his beloved little sister, LaNell (Bill) Bartlett; brothers and sisters-in-law, Randall and Bonnie Leatherman of Muskogee, OK, Ronnie and Amy Leatherman of Kerrville; and cousins, nieces and nephews.