Dana Garrison Frye

Centertown, Missouri

Dana Garrison Frye, age 86, of Centertown, Missouri passed away Saturday, December 8, 2018. She had been living this past year with her daughter in Columbia, Missouri.

She and her twin, Joan, were born in Ava, Missouri October 23, 1932, the daughters of Norman Garrison and Frieda (Pettit) Garrison.

She united in marriage with John Vernon Frye on August 24, 1949 in Arkansas. They began a family while in Ava, Missouri. John pursued a career with the Missouri Conservation Commission (Department of Conservation) that moved them to Cassville, Missouri where they lived for 15 years. They later moved to Centertown, Missouri where John commuted to the state headquarters in Jefferson City. Four children were born to this union. John Keith Frye (1950-1984), Norman Timothy Frye, Dana Katherine Frye Birkes and Matthew Burl Frye.

She is survived by her son Tim, his wife Ann and their daughter Bethany Byrd and her family; her daughter Kathy, her children Nathaniel Harris, Dana Schultz and her family and Miranda Martin; her son Matt and his sons, Quincy and Izaiah and her granddaughter, Amanda Vauble and her family.  She is also survived by two sisters, Beverly Midkiff and Judy Chance of Oklahoma.

Dana was preceded in death by her husband, John; her son, Keith; her grandson, Joshua; her brother, Jerry and her twin, Joan.

Dana and John were married for 58 years.  They lived a self sufficient lifestyle of farming, gardening, horticulture, beekeeping, canning and preserving. They raised four children and attended and supported the Southern Baptist churches in their communities. Dana taught bible school and directed the nursery at church for many years.

Dana's children remember her as a faithful wife, a loving mother, a wonderful cook, a talented seamstress and an eternal optimist with a sweet and gentle disposition. She set a gracious, Christian example and will be dearly missed.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Midwest Special Needs Trust Charitable Grant Program at midwestspecialneedstrust.org/charitable-program/support-our-program/

Graveside services for Dana will be Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ava Cemetery, Ava, MO. Officiating will be Pastor Jeremy Barnard. Services are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO.