Emmett L. Frye Sr., 90, of Marseilles, passed away Saturday, Sept. 17, at Ottawa Pavilion.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory with the Rev. Duane Kaufman officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the funeral home. The Ottawa Men of the Moose will perform a ritual at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be his grandsons.
Emmett was born May 1, 1926, in Morris, to Clarence and Hulda (Vosberg) Frye. He married Betty Lou Wilson on June 9, 1946, in Streator; she passed away Feb. 27, 1993.
Emmett retired from Libbey-Owens-Ford after 40 years. He was a lifetime member of the Ottawa Moose Lodge (65 years) and held many positions, including governor and secretary, and received his Pilgrim Degree in 1998.Emmett was an avid bowler and bowled on many leagues throughout the years. He was awarded Bowler of the Year in Ottawa and Hall of Fame in Marseilles. Emmett also liked to go fishing, especially in Wisconsin and Canada, camping throughout the states, wintering in Arizona and going to the riverboats. He was a very social person and enjoyed bartending at the Moose and Kim and Sue’s Bowl-Rite Lanes in Marseilles.
He is survived by four daughters, Tonya Borowicz, of Marseilles, Ronna Fessler, of Marseilles, Johnna Jo (Winford) DeClue, of Ottawa, and Babette (Derek) Alonzo, of Ottawa; two sons, Kim (Sue) Frye, of Marseilles, and Emmett “Laddie” L. Frye Jr., of Marseilles; 15 grandchildren, Michelle (Mike) Edwards, Chris (Gioia) Frye, Brett (Robin) Frye, Scott (Tina) Lawry, Shawn (Chrissy) Lawry, Jim Fessler, Chad Frye, Josh Frye, Winford DeClue Jr., Johnnie (Tiffany) DeClue, Chelsie Alonzo, Chayna Alonzo, Trevor Alonzo, Tristen Alonzo and Troy Alonzo; 18 great-grandchildren; and one brother, Melvin Frye, of Streator.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two brothers, Owen and Ronald Frye; and two sons-in-law, Joseph Borowicz and Willis Fessler.
Memorials may be directed to the Mooseheart, Friendship Village or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Emmett has been laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms.