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Gladys Frey

June 19, 2016
Richland, MI

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Gladys "Jeanne" (Loomis) Frey, age 87, of Richland, Michigan passed away peacefully June 19, 2016. Jeanne was born July 24, 1928 in Enid, Oklahoma to Loren Samuel and Clara Gladys (Palmer) Loomis. She graduated from Enid High School in 1946 and attended Phillips University. In 1949 she moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where she attended the University of Michigan and worked as a secretary in a residence hall. In 1951 she became Secretary to the Assistant Director of the U of M Speech Clinic and for four summers was secretary at Shady Trails, the U of M Speech Improvement Camp near Northport, Michigan. In 1954 she became Secretary to the U of M Assistant Dean of Men. While employed at the University, she met her future husband, Keith James Frey who was an Engineering student. They were married on May 26, 1956 and then moved to Charlotte, Michigan, where Keith had a contracting business and later worked for Consumers Energy. While living there she was an active member of the Lawrence Avenue Methodist Church and the Jaycees Auxiliary. She was also a secretary for the Eaton County Cooperative Extension Service and 4-H Clubs. She gave birth to their first son, John, in 1959. In January 1965, the family moved to Plymouth, Michigan. While there they adopted their 2nd son, Tim, and their 3rd son, Dan, was born. In 1969 they moved to Parma, Michigan. She stayed busy raising their sons and was involved in many church and school activities, including being a Cub Scout Den Mother for 4 years. In 1977 they moved to Richland, Michigan. She worked for Lights Garden Center and Landscape Nursery for 8 years. During this time she took many classes through Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service and earned a Master Gardener Certification and became a Michigan Certified Nurseryman through the Michigan Association of Nurserymen. She was an active member since 1977 of the Kalamazoo Free Methodist Church where she served on numerous committees. She was the first woman there to be elected as a delegate to the Annual Conference of the Southern Michigan Conference of the Free Methodist Church. One of her hobbies and joys was gardening, both at home and at her church where she was in charge of the landscaping for 12 years. She was also a past member of the Gull Prairie Garden Club in Richland. Jeanne loved the Lord and it was her desire to serve Him and to try to set a good example for others by striving to live a Christian life and by following Jesus. This was her first priority; second was her love and devotion to her family and home. She is now in the loving arms of God. She was preceded in death by her husband, Keith, as well as her parents, two brothers and three sisters in law. She is survived by her three sons, John (Grand Rapids), Tim (Richland), Dan and wife Staci (Greeley, Colorado); brother, Robert Loomis (Sunnyvale, California), and sister, Gloria Powell and husband Fred (Coeur d'Alene, ID) and numerous nieces and nephews. Jeanne's family will greet friends at 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. today at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 9170 East D Avenue (M-89). The Funeral Service to celebrate Jeanne's life will be held 1:00 p.m., Friday, June 24th at the Kalamazoo Free Methodist Church, 931 W. Maple Street, 49008 with Rev. Craig A. Watson, Pastor, officiating. Family and friends will meet at the Church's Centennial Center from 11:00 a.m. until service time for a time of fellowship and a luncheon. Interment will follow next to her beloved husband, Keith in Prairie Home Cemetery, Richland. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jeanne's honor may be directed to the Church or the Alternatives of Kalamazoo Crisis Pregnancy Center, 4200 W. Michigan Avenue, Suite 100, Kalamazoo, MI 49006.