David M. Fraley, age 93 of Springfield, was called to his heavenly home on November 14, 2022 to be reunited with his beloved wife Betty. In life, he cut a wide swath as a businessman, civic club leader, and volunteer law enforcement officer. David was born April 4,1929, in Webb City, Missouri to Frank Fraley and Martha Ethel White Fraley. HeContinue Reading
David M. Fraley, age 93 of Springfield, was called to his heavenly home on November 14, 2022 to be reunited with his beloved wife Betty. In life, he cut a wide swath as a businessman, civic club leader, and volunteer law enforcement officer.
David was born April 4,1929, in Webb City, Missouri to Frank Fraley and Martha Ethel White Fraley. He grew up in Joplin and attended Joplin Senior High, where he distinguished himself as an R.O.T.C. officer and track star.
David and Betty were sweethearts from the sixth grade on and were wed on October 20,1947. They were married for over 70 years before Betty’s passing in 2018. From that union were born four admiring children.
The family made the move to Springfield in 1954. David managed Four State Radio Supply (which became Norman Electronics) and later owned HTD Battery Company along with his wife. He held the rank of Lieutenant as a reserve deputy with the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, having served as dispatcher, Victims and Witness deputy, and transporter of inmates. David was an avid New York Yankees fan and enjoyed playing sports in earlier years including baseball, softball, basketball, track, golf, and bowling. He was a member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club, where he served as Club President and Division Lt. Governor, and of the National Association of Purchasing Managers, in which he was elected Regional Vice-President. David and Betty were charter members of South Haven Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher and Youth department superintendent. He also managed South Haven’s championship men’s fast-pitch softball team.
David had the kindest heart and provided generously and unselfishly to his own family as well as to numerous friends, strangers, and organizations in need. His main goal in life was to provide others with the things he did not have as a child growing up during the Depression. He was a mentor to several youth throughout his life, teaching them life and work ethics and training them for future business successes of their own. He taught his own children and grandchildren to always do the best they could and then strive to do even better, to love each other, and to pass that love on to everyone they meet. He also taught them to work for what they need, to work harder for what they want, but also to make sure that others’ needs were taken care of along the way. David will be greatly missed by all who knew him. The family would like to thank the staff of Phoenix Home Care and Hospice for the loving care they provided.
David was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, brothers Rex Fraley and Frank Fraley, and his sister Deane Norman. Survivors include his children Sheryl Garrison, Vicki (Adil) Na’ayem, David (Deb) Fraley, and Larry Fraley. Grandchildren include Tony (Dana) Na’ayem, Derek Fraley, Amber Price, Bethany (Dan) Seiser, and Ashley (Cody) Wilson. Great-grandchildren include Arden and Spencer Fraley, Mackenzie and Cameron Wilson, and Daniel, Wyatt, and Gracie Na’ayem. David was also loved and admired by many nieces and nephews, friends, neighbors, and “forever family” members.
Services will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at the Greenlawn South Funeral Home with visitation at noon and services following at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be at Maple Park Cemetery, Springfield. Memorial donations may be made to the David and Betty Fraley Scholarship Fund at Missouri State University, 901 S. National, Springfield, MO 65897 Attn: Karl Schmidt.
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