Shirley Jean Fry

Shirley Jean Fry, 86, of Omak, WA passed away on September 12, 2022. Shirley Jean McCandless was born September 6, 1936, in Weslaco, Texas, the youngest of eight children, to Ray and Florence McCandless. Like many families during that time, her parents moved the family in search of better employment opportunities and eventually moved to Omak, WA by the time she was four years old. Jean attended the Omak School District and was a part of many extracurricular clubs including Chorus, Girl’s Glee Club, Annual Club, Honor Society, and the Pioneer Express School Newspaper. She graduated in 1954. Jean met her future husband, Bud, after he spotted her in front of the post office and he told his friend that he was “going to marry that girl.” On April 6, 1954, Jean married Bud Fry in a double wedding with her mother Florence marrying her second husband, Harry Moses. Together Jean and Bud had five kids; they taught their kids the value of hard work and how to be self-dependent. As a family, they raised and harvested a garden and raised cows, pigs, and chickens for food. They spent many days in the woods cutting and gathering firewood, hunting, and fishing. Family was extremely important to Bud and Jean and they’d often invite their parents, siblings, and extended families to the house for backyard BBQs and meals. Jean was a self-taught artist who created many pieces using various techniques including charcoal, acrylic, watercolor, and oil paints. But her favorite medium was pastels. As she continued to draw and paint, she enrolled in classes to expand her skills and was also a part of a local art club. She was often asked to enter some of her pieces in the Art in the Park during Stampede. As her children and grandchildren grew older, she began gifting artwork to them. Jean and Bud were thrilled to be grandparents and were always a constant figure in their grandchildren’s lives. There is not a single birthday, holiday, or summer break that they were not a part of. Though her own children were grown, she selflessly took on the role of raising more kids. Jean and Bud played an integral part in helping their son David raise three of his kids full-time while he worked the graveyard shift. As a mother and a grandmother, Jean put her family first. When it was discovered that several of her grandkids were lactose intolerant, Jean raised goats and milked them twice a day to ensure that the kids had milk. She encouraged her grandkid’s creativity and taught many of them to cook, bake, and sew. She always made sure her grandkids were provided for and always made sure they never left her house feeling hungry. In her grandkid’s opinion, she made the best macaroni and cheese, scrambled eggs, and fried potatoes. Jean was a grandma to anyone who needed one; many of her grandkid’s friends often called her grandma too. Jean was a devout Catholic and a member of the St. Joseph’s/St. Mary’s church and spent many years singing in the church choir. She did her best to pass on her love of the church to her kids and grandkids and was extremely proud when they reached milestones in the church such as getting their First Communion and their Confirmations. Having her grandchildren join her for Mass was a time she greatly cherished. To most, she was known as a mother, a grandmother, an artist, a member of the church and choir and a provider among other titles, but to us, she was the strongest, most resilient woman we’ve ever known. She was truly the matriarch of the family. Jean is proceeded in death by her parents, Florence, and Ray; her siblings, Cleveland, Treca, Lloyd, Raymond, Burl, Dale, and Roy; her husband, Bud; and her sons Bob and Jim. She is survived by her children, Barb, Cindy, and David; fifteen grandchildren; thirty-eight great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Rosary will be held 7:00 PM, Friday Sept. 16, 2022 at St. Mary’s Mission Church. The funeral will be held 11:00 AM, Saturday Sept. 17, 2022 at St. Mary’s Mission Church. Burial at St. Mary’s Mission Cemetery. And Father Jake will be officiating.

Shirley Jean Fry

September 6, 1936 - September 12, 2022