Obituary

Geraldine Fay Fries, age 77 of Goodyear, AZ died April 8, 2019, in Goodyear, AZ. She was born May 8, 1941, in New Kensington, PA to Howard and Mary (Bisel) Wagner. She grew up in a house that was built by her father on the banks of the Allegheny River. Gerry attended secretarial school in Minnesota, then moved to New York City to begin a career. She got a job with the airlines and while at work met a young man named Ernest. He was the love of her life and soon they were married.

Gerry always knew exactly what she wanted in life and was determined to live her life the way that she chose. When children entered her life she knew two things, she wanted to continue working and she didn’t want to raise her children in New York. She and Ernest moved to Woodland Hills, CA where they commuted to Los Angeles to work for National Airlines, and eventually Pan Am. Ernest and Gerry retired in 2006 and began a long road trip that took them to almost every state in the union. When they stopped to visit their daughter Kathi, Gerry knew that this was where she wanted to stay, so they moved to Goodyear, AZ.

Gerry’s life was centered on her husband Ernest. When he passed away, Gerry again called on her determination and strength and found a life. She formed a group of really good friends that met at her house daily to laugh, talk, and drink coffee. She would drive her friends on errands, to movies, appointments, and lunch dates. Their everyday lives became woven together through their friendship.

Gerry enjoyed learning and trying new things, even if she didn’t achieve the expertise that she had hoped for. She enjoyed watching cooking shows and trying to imitate what she learned. She liked crafting, sewing, scrapbooking, and going to the movies. When her illness put limits on what she could do physically, she focused on her love for her dachshund, Ernie and her love of her grandchildren. Her strength and battle to live life on her own terms was with her until the end.

Gerry is survived by her daughter, Kathi Jo Johnson (Thomas); sons, Kevin and Kerry Fries; sister, Darlene Hartman (Richard); and grandchildren, Thomas, Ty, Tiffini, and Tamara Johnson, and Carley Fries. A visitation will be held at 4:00 pm, a rosary at 5:00 pm, followed by a funeral service at 5:30 pm, Friday, April 12, 2019, at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, AZ 85338. Burial will be at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.