Obituary: Fries, Jerry
Age 81
He was a large, loud force of nature, never one to keep his opinions to himself, dedicated to the pursuit of fun and knowledge.
Cigar in hand, he loved long, often loud discussions on whatever interesting topic you were willing to debate.
Born July 25, 1933 in Pasco, WA to John and Elsie (Stromberger) Fries.
As teenagers, Jerry and his brother Don lived and worked on the farm owned by their grandparents, Jacob and Anna Stomberger, outside of Sprague, WA, known as “The Homeplace”.
Attending Sprague schools, he met Joan Nottage who in 1952 became his beloved wife of 63 years.
After working on several local farms, Jerry, a self-taught, natural mechanic, along with Joan and three small children already in tow, moved to Harrington, WA to work at the Ford Garage in 1956.
Two more children followed.
After starting his own mechanic business called B & B Sales, in 1964 he purchased the Harrington Chevron gas station.
“A Hoist to Fit All Cars and a Price to Fit All Pockets” read the free pens that were given away.
The gas station was a happy hangout for many local young Harrington men, and in the summer nephew Dean joined his cousins to work at the station.
Many people’s lives were enhanced by Jerry’s generosity and mentoring.
In 1967 he started B&B Septic, now a third generation business.
Jerry loved fun and adventure, which meant many thrill-filled family camping/boating vacations; long treks to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Mexico; many epic motorboat expeditions to Alaska and Vancouver Island; and driving around the USA in camper vans-Joan always at his side.
But his favorite pastime was boating, which included re-creating the Vancouver Island voyages of Captain Cook and salmon fishing on the Puget Sound.
The entire month of September was dedicated to Jerry driving the fishing boat while a steady stream of family and friends reeled in the salmon that was served in October at the annual Fries Fish Fry, a colossal all-day salmon feed/pot luck gathering that was held for over 30 years where everyone was welcome.
Jerry is greatly missed by his loving wife, Joan; his five children: Jim (sadly deceased) and wife Cheryl, Mike and wife Virginia, Mel and wife Kim, Laura and beau Brad, and Dale and fiancĂŠSally; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; brother Don; two nieces; one nephew; three aunts; one uncle and numerous cousins and other relations.
He passed way peacefully June 16, 2015 surrounded by loved ones.
A Memorial Fries Fish Fry will be held in September.
Jerry claimed that he was “a legend in his own time” and clearly that claim was true.