Mitchel Fryer

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Master Sgt. (retired) Mitchel Fryer, 65, of Blytheville, died Saturday, July 20, 2013, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Memphis. Born Dec. 3, 1947, to Mary Hunt Fryer and the late James Fryer Jr., he graduated from Bolivar Industrial High School and served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 20 years. He received the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, NCO Professional Military Education Grad Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship and others. After retiring from the military he was employed by Mississippi County Arkansas Economic Opportunity Commission as a Food Services Manager.

He was a member of True Light Missionary Baptist Church, was a charter member of the African American Men of Distinction and a member of the Versatile-25 Club. He enjoyed cooking being with friends and started each day with a zest and zeal for life.

Mr. Fryer leaves his wife, Frances Fryer;

Two daughters, Michelle Fryer of Antioch, Tenn., and Miriam Fryer of Blytheville;

Two sons, Mitchel J. Fryer of Blytheville, and Johnathan Fryer of El Paso, Texas;

One step-son, Quinten Johnson of Gulf Breeze, Fla.;

Four grandchildren, Kenyon, Bryant, Wilson and Bryanna;

His mother, Mary Hunt Fryer;

Five brothers, Rev. Nelson (and Minnie) Hunt of Memphis, Dr. James (and Diann) Fryer of Knoxville, Tenn., Ernest (and Georgia) Fryer of Bolivar, Tenn., Bobby (and Peggy) Fryer of Memphis and Rev. Dwight (and Linda) Fryer of Bartlett, Tenn.;

Two sisters, Marion Lisa Fryer of Cordova, Tenn., and Carol Danette Fryer of Grand Junction, Tenn.; and

Many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 5 p.m. today (Wednesday) at First Missionary Baptist Church in Blytheville with the Rev. Odale Jones officiating. Burial will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday at the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 3-5 p.m. today at First Missionary Baptist Church in Blytheville.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to American Cancer Society Memorial Mosaic Donations (http://main.acsevents.org/goto/mitchel_fryer).

McDonald-Horne Funeral Home of Blytheville is in charge of arrangements.