Richard Morris Frary, Sr. passed away Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at the age of 92.
Richard (Dick) was born March 25, 1929, in Northampton, MA, to Morris Lester and Marguerite (Gagne) Frary. An only child, Dick was educated in Northampton schools and at Monson Academy. He worked at The Hampshire Bookshop during high school, delivering books to Smith College students. Dick graduated from Tufts University in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation he continued to work at his father’s Ford dealership, Frary Motors, in Easthampton, and served in the US Army during the Korean War, “making Europe safe for democracy”. After his service, Dick married Dorothy Jean Bourgault of Easthampton.
Dick and Dorothy settled in Southampton in 1957 and raised six children: Richard Morris, Jr., Peter Carl, Laura, Alison, Amy and Anne. Dick held positions at Worthington Corp. in Holyoke, FC Taplin in West Springfield, and Spencer Turbine in Windsor, CT, as a project engineer before retiring in 1994.
A charter member of the Southampton Lions’ Club, Dick also had a strong interest in genealogy and local history. For many years, he was actively involved with the Frary Family Association, the Southampton Historical Society and served on the Southampton Cemetery and Historic Commissions and as the Veterans’ Grave Officer. In the 1980s he spent countless hours deciphering gravestones to update maps of the Center and West Part Cemeteries. He was also instrumental in securing grants that enabled veterans’ gravestone restoration in Center Cemetery and erection of war memorial monuments at the Southampton Town Hall. In 2010, the American Legion recognized him with their Citizen of the Year award. After retirement, he indulged his passion for collecting clocks and was a volunteer apprentice at Al’s Clock Shop in Easthampton. In later years, he volunteered at the Southampton Town Hall where he enjoyed sharing his knowledge of the town’s history.
Dick was predeceased by Dorothy, his wife of 50 years, his daughter Laura, and son-in-law Timothy Brady. He leaves behind his children Richard, Jr. and his wife Althea, of Cummington; Peter of Southampton; Alison of Westfield; Amy of Granby; and Anne and her husband Sami Doganlar of Izmir, Turkey. He also leaves his grandchildren Jennifer (Canning) Peloquin and her husband Robert Peloquin, Alivia Strolis, Leyla and Sena Doganlar, and great-grandchildren Roxanne, Michelle, Brandon and Emma Peloquin.
At his own request, burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. Donations in his memory may be made to Friends of Edward Public Library, 30 East St, Southampton, MA 01073.
Boucher – O’Brien Funeral Home in Easthampton was entrusted with his cremation.