Mary Kathryn Gordon Frye (Mom/Nannie) of Chicota, Texas passed away on “the hill” Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at the age of 99 years and 8 months…..as a Host of 100 angels gathered round and were singing “Sweet Beulah Land”, at 8:am today, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said, “welcome home Kathryn, my good and faithful servant.” And the Heavens sang “Hallelujah.”
Kathryn was born in Chicota, May 15, 1919 to Sina Katherine (Stubblefield) Gordon and John Tiffen “Tiff” Gordon. She graduated from Chicota High School in 1935.
Immediately after graduation Kathryn moved to her sister’s home in Minden, La and took a job at Miss Matties dress shop there, and also learned to work as a switchboard operator. It was there she met Howard Wilson Frye of Doyline, La, and on August 25, 1942, they married in Paris, Texas.
Howard’s work as a pipefitter and steamfitter took them to different cities around the United States, and Kathryn always found work as a switchboard operator; Chicago and Willmington, Illinois, Terra Haute, Indiana, Rio Grande City, Kilgore/Danville, Texas and settling in Plano, Texas in 1954. Kathryn immediately began work as a switchboard operator at the GTE office until they changed over to rotary phones. It was then she became the office manager for Ken Moore Ford dealership in Plano.
About that time Kathryn and Howard bought 4 acres near downtown Plano with the dream to one day build an apartment complex on the property, which they did in 1965, then added a second building in 1968. They sold the remaining land to the Plano Ministerial Alliance who then in 1988, built the Plano Community Home.
They both worked the apartment business until Howard’s passing in 2006, then Kathryn retired to her family homeplace, “the hill” in Chicota, then her daughter and grandchildren took over the apartment business, and it’s still family owned and operated.
Kathryn is a member of the First United Methodist Church, and an original member of the Weslyan Angels Bible study group, a member of the Eastern Star, and in the early 1960’s was President of the Plano ISD PTA, and a chaperone of the 1961 Senior Class!!!!
Kathryn is preceded in death by her husband, their infant son Phillip in 1946, her parents, her siblings Pauline “Penny” Gordon McAnally Jones, Travis Gordon, Harry Gordon, Margaret Gordon Love, Phara Gordon Jenkins White, her grandson Phillip Cowart, and her son-in-law Lewis Allman.
Survivors include her daughter Janis Frye Cowart Allman, granddaughter Tracy Cowart Tucker Carmichael, grandson Gordon Cowart, great grandson Garrett Tucker and Aubrey, and great-great grandchildren Tristan and Brynleigh Tucker. Also surviving are step grandchildren Lisa Cowart-Cromwell and family, Allen Cowart and family, Brandon Cowart, and Trevor Cowart and family, several cousins, and nephews and nieces.
We want to give a special Thank you, hugs, and love to two special angels on earth, Moms caregivers, Sarah Addy Flinn and Pam Maddox.
Pallbearers will be Gordon Cowart, Garrett Tucker, Jimmy Love, Tim Love, Kenny Love, and Johnny Hale.
The graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM, Monday, January 28, 2019 at the Forest Chapel Cemetery in Chicota/Forest Chapel, Texas with Rev. Rocky Burrow officiating. In lieu of flowers the family suggest a donation be made to the Chicota Volunteer Fire Department c/o Clark Pugh, 5817 FM 197, Arthur City, Texas 75411, or a selection of your choice.
Online condolences may be made to the Frye family by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com.