Dick Fryrear
Richard “Dick” Fryrear, 76, of Haxtun, died Dec. 17, 2020, in Greeley. Dick was born in Haxtun on June 18, 1944, to Melvin and Mary (Thompson) Fryrear. He was the third child, following his sisters Helen and Barbara.
The Fryrears lived in the tight-knit community of Highland Center south of Haxtun. Dick attended Highland Center Grade School. He often remarked that he received a great education there because the information was repeated for each class and, in that way, reinforced for those who had covered it previously and previewed for those coming later.
After grade school, Dick began riding the school bus into Haxtun for high school, where he loved playing the linebacker position in football. During his junior year, he met and began dating Diane Daniel. On graduation, Dick received a joint honor scholarship and entered the Colorado School of Mines.
During his junior year at Mines, Dick and Diane were married. During Dick’s senior year, son Christopher was born. Graduating sixth in his class with a dual degree in chemistry and chemical engineering, he was offered a position with Shell Chemical Company, and the young family moved to the Los Angeles, California, area for training before being assigned a position in New York City, New York, eight months later.
While working in New York and living in Leonia, New Jersey, daughter Andrea was born. The year 1968 brought another move — this time to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area where the family settled into a new housing development in New Jersey. During their time in Mount Laurel, son Sean was born.
After four years, yet another transfer sent the family to Stow, Massachusetts, where they enjoyed the rich history of the area and new friendships. In 1977, with a new move looming, the couple made the decision to abandon the nomadic lifestyle, purchase Dick’s parents’ farm and return to Haxtun.
Dick thoroughly enjoyed farming, but more than that he enjoyed pausing in his day for a couple of hours or more to visit with neighbors. He had seemingly hundreds of stories that he so enjoyed recanting, possibly adding new embellishments with each telling.
He served on the school board, leading the effort to retain the BOCES organization in Haxtun and to build a new building for that purpose. He also served in numerous capacities in the United Methodist Church, Haxtun Hospital Foundation, Haxtun Lions Club and Points West Community Bank board.
On retirement, Dick, an avid history buff, began to thoroughly enjoy travel, striking up conversations with anyone who would visit with him wherever he found himself. Dick will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and neighbor to all.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Alan; son, Sean; sister, Helen Lambert; and brother-in-law, Darrell Lambert.
Dick is survived by his sister, Barbara Saylor of Sterling; wife, Diane of Haxtun; son, Chris and wife Maria of Haxtun; daughter, Andrea and husband Mike Davidson of Greeley; daughter-in-law, Rachael Fryrear of Haxtun; grandchildren, Hannah and Ellie Davidson and Kyle and Zach Fryrear; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Due to the pandemic, a small private funeral was held. A public celebration of life and burial will be held at a later date.
Contributions may be made in Dick’s memory to Haxtun Lions Club, 709 S. Colorado Ave., Haxtun, CO 80731.
Chaney-Reager Funeral Home in Sterling has been entrusted with the arrangements.