Dr. Robert L. Frye

On Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, Dr. Robert L. Frye went home to be with his Lord. He was born Jan. 9, 1927, to Jennings Bryan Frye and Fannie Mae Coyle Frye in Shongaloo. He attended and graduated from Shongaloo High School and left for LSU at age 16 in 1943, where he graduated with a doctorate degree in January 1966. He married Bettye Elmore Frye on Oct. 6, 1945, and left for service in the U.S. during World War II. He returned home to start a family and became an educator in Louisiana schools for 35 years. His career began at Reeves High School as a teacher and coach and advanced to become a principal in Webster Parish at Evergreen, Dubberly and Shongaloo. During these years, he was blessed with four children and continued his advancement to the State Department of Education and then to Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. He served as a member of the Tangipahoa Parish School Board and ran for State Superintendent of Education. His greatest pride was the children he knew and educated in schools and colleges. The lives he influenced were a source of pride. Dr. Frye was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Frye, who were of Springhill; and a brother, Dr. Jennings Bryan Frye Jr., who was of Baton Rouge. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Bettye Elmore Frye, 83, of Springhill; a sister, Nona Rhea Walker, 90, of Baton Rouge; four children, Robert R., of Tulsa, Bettye Renee, of Baton Rouge, Deborah Jean Frye Ferachi and her husband, Kenny Ferachi, of Plaquemine, and Kevin Dale and Janice Frye, of Benton; six grandchildren, Keely Frye Dailey and her husband, Steve Dailey, of Seattle, Randal Ray Frye and his wife, Minon, of Broken Arrow, Okla., Robert M. Frye and his wife, Janya, of Bixby, Okla., Kenny and Gretchen Ferachi, of Baton Rouge, Chris and Kaci Ferachi Nobles, of Valdosta, Ga., and Heather Dale Frye, of Hammond; and 10 great-grandchildren, Kaylen and Emme Dailey, of Seattle, Kinslee marie and Jeremiah Frye, of Broken Arrow, Robert Alexander Frye, of Bixby, Sara Manning Miller, Madeleine Frye, Vincent Andrew and Anna Catherine Ferachi, all of Baton Rouge, and Gage Dale Brown, of Hammond. Also survived by his nephews, Drs. Barton and Lloyd Frye, of Baton Rouge, Dr. A.D. Walker, of Houma, Gary and Steve Walker, of Baton Rouge, J. B. Frye III, of Baton Rouge, Bill Elmore, of Ruston, Freddie Elmore, of El Dorado, Ark., and Mike Elmore, of Texarkana; and nieces, Nona Frye Spence, of Lake Charles, Sharon Walker Mathews, of Baton Rouge, and Paulette Elmore, of Houston. He loved his Lord and is resting and rejoicing in that love today. Visitation at Bailey's Mortuary in Springhill on Sunday, Feb. 6, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Funeral services at First Baptist Church of Springhill on Monday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m.