Obituary for Tom Fraley Tom Fraley was born August 12, 1931, in Horatio, Arkansas, and passed from this life April 13, 2018, in Rolla, Missouri, at the age of eighty-six. Preceding him in death were his parents Gordon Fraley and Josephine Lowe, and his wife of sixty-two years, Nadine Walker Fraley. Surviving him are his children Scotti Siebert and husband, Dick, Springfield; Joni Fraley, St. James, and Chris Fraley and wife Mary, Rolla; grandchildren Jarred Bol-linger, Taylor Robarge, and Nathan Fraley; and great-grandaughter, Ellen Fraley. Tom served in the United States Navy during the Korean War, and later attended Coffeyville Junior College in Coffeyville, Kansas. While at Coffeyville, Tom played on the football team, which won the national junior college championship in 1956. Tom and other members of that team were inducted into the National Junior College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. Tom graduated from Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 1958, before accepting a teaching position in Salem. While teaching physical education and driver’s education Tom also coached Tiger basketball, football, and track, touching the lives of many students and players. During his coaching years, during the summer months, he and good friend and fellow coach, Ben Koeneman, managed the Salem Municipal Pool during the first several years it was open. After his coaching years he worked for Western and American States insurance companies as the branch claims manager for south central Missouri. Tom main-tained his ties to the Salem Tigers and Salem schools by serving for many years on the “chain gang” at football games and as a judge for Salem’s annual spelling bee. After his retirement Tom worked several years in the photo lab at Salem’s Wal-Mart, where he was known to make appearances as Santa Claus during the holiday seasons. Tom made many life long friends in Salem and loved the Salem community. He and Nadine were members of the Salem Golf and Country Club for many years, where they enjoyed golfing with friends and family. He was a true family man, a good man, and a good friend. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him and forever remembered by all whose lives he touched. Tom’s family invites his friends, former students, and family friends to join them in a celebration of a life well lived on Friday, May 11, from 4:30 – 6:30 pm at Spring Creek Golf Club, Salem, Missouri. A Scholarship fund in Tom’s memory has been established and will be awarded to a graduating Salem High School athlete in the spring of 2019. Contributions may be sent to: Town & Country Bank, c/o Tom Fraley Memorial Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 349 Salem, MO. 65560 To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Tom Fraley please visit our Sympathy Store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Tom Fraley August 12 1931 April 13 2018. James & Gahr Mortuaries
Death notice for the town of: Salem, state: Missouri