Layne Fraley

As I sit outside, in the woods of our backyard, I am truthfully honored to have the opportunity to write the obituary of a miraculous man. I am proud to call this man my father. 

As I sit on the trunk of a fallen maple tree, I am gracefully guided on writing the most difficult writing I’ve ever done. Although it may be difficult, it is one of the easiest writings I’ve ever chosen to do because of the spectacular man he chose to be. The tree I am sitting on is completely uprooted. It’s no longer connected to the ground. As I gaze down at the limbs of the dead tree, I notice it has leaves that are thriving and vibrant green. How can this be? The tree is no longer connected to the earth. Even though the tree is uprooted and no longer grounded to the earth, look at the life it’s providing for the forest. Even though my dad is no longer on this earth, look at all the life he continues to give it! We have all been uprooted at some point and feel disconnected from the earth at a time like this. My father does not want us to be saddened because he is no longer physically with us. He wants us to thrive just like the leaves of this fallen tree. Even though we have been uprooted we have to find our inner strength to keep moving forward.

My father was a very wise man. He always stressed how important simplicity is. He chose to live a simple life finding joy and delight in the simple things. He always taught us to be happy with what stage of life you are in, and to not rush to get to the next stage. Simply enjoy the one you’re in. He enjoyed being outside on the back porch with the dog and watching the birds. He always asked how our day was, not to strike conversation, rather because he sincerely cared. He played an incredibly magnificent role in the lives of myself and my sister Tara. Whenever arriving home from work he always took the time to find us and say “hello”. It didn’t matter if Tara was upstairs or I was outside in the woods; he would always come find us. There was never a night that went by when he didn’t say “”goodnight””. He greatly honored his sacrament of marriage with my mother. His love for her will always continue to surround her and carry her throughout life.  He always loved eating her home-cooked meals, and it certainly never broke his heart to end his day with a bowl of ice cream.

My mother and father have both paved a path of faith, not only for myself and my sister but for anybody who has had the pleasure of meeting them. My dad’s sense of humor will forever be remembered. No matter how funny the jokes truly were, you couldn’t help but laugh because of the look on his face. He found pure delight in making our Mim laugh until we had tears running down our face.

Greeting him at the pearly gates will be David Fraley (father), Marvin Reau (father-in-law), Lisa and Randy Benore, Garrett Magrum (Godchild). There’s a number of us on this earth who will miss him dearly including wife, LuAnn; daughters, Tara and Kendra, mother Marlee Fraley; brothers, Dave (Deanna) Fraley and Kevin Fraley; sister, Melissa (Jarred) Keller, Yvonne Leonard (mother-in-law), Jeanne (Jim) Gallaher, Jill (Chris) Morris, Jake Nehrig, Pam (Rick) Przeniczny, Charles (Karen) Reau, and three special little blessings Ava, Isabelle, and Luke.

My dad is a father figure for more people than you could ever imagine. He has owned Subway of Lambertville for 31 years. He has impacted many lives throughout his ownership including his current employees who have kept his business open full-time.

I thank Mary, God, the saints, and angels that I was gifted such an outstanding father throughout my life. I know his fatherly love will continue until the end of the earth.

Dad, I simply want to thank you for molding us into the beautiful family we are today. Although the Fabulous Fraley Family of Four is now transforming into the Terrific Trio, I know in my heart of hearts you will guide us from up in heaven. I thank you Dad for making me the person I am today. 

Love,

Kendra Fraley

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October, 26, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the Urbanski’s Bedford Funeral Chapel 8300 Lewis Ave. Temperance, MI. The funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, He will lie in state in the narthex after 10 a.m.