(Ilda) Jane Graves Fries, the daughter of Brooks Wallace and Florence Emma (Tuxhorn) Graves, was born September 13, 1921 on her parents’ farm near Inman, Kansas.
The family moved into Inman when she started school, graduating from grade school and high school in Inman. She graduated from Salt City Business College in Hutchinson, Kansas and worked at the First National Bank in Hutchinson until marrying Harold Edward Fries May 25, 1942, after he joined the Army Aircorp and graduated from the Officers Candidate School in St Louis, Missouri. They lived at three different Air Bases. After four months, she returned to work at the Bank while he served 2 ½ years in US Army Air Force in the Mediterranean area returning home in January of 1945. He was stationed at an Air Base in Columbia, South Carolina and then sent to Long Island, New York until the war ended.
Returning home, they settled in McPherson raising four children, Howard, Mary Margaret, Edward and Dale. Her family was very special to her and she loved to sew, cook and bake. She also loved to travel and go camping with the family. She enjoyed visiting National Parks, Canada and Alaska. During her travels, she visited all 50 states.She retired after ten years as bookkeeper at Raleighs Drug Store and sixteen years taking care of the payroll for Certainteed Corp in McPherson. After retiring, she and Harold would spend winters in Arizona visiting their sons Dale (Lucrecia) and Dr. Edward (Pat) and two children, Sarah and Alan in California on their way home.She was a past President of Soroptimist International of McPherson. She was also past President of Church Women United of McPherson when they were both active organizations. She served her Church many years as Treasurer, choir member, Flower chairman, Council member and as Women’s Fellowship Chairman. She enjoyed her many friends in Mid Century EHU, The Amity Club, Bible Study groups and the Birthday Breakfast group. She also enjoyed volunteering at Save and Share for over twenty years as their Cashier.Jane was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Harold, of 59 years of marriage, sister Helen Books Ayres, two brothers Leo Graves and Robert Graves.She is survived by her son, Howard, daughter Mary Margaret Mingenback of Emporia, son Edward (Pat) of Torrance, California and son Dale (Lucrecia) of McPherson, three grandchildren Sarah Morgan, Alan Fries and Patti (Wasim Zaman) Mingenback and four great grandchildren, Ravi, Kenneth, Savanah and Cassandra, many nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.Memorial service will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Glidden-Ediger-Wiggins Chapel, McPherson, KS..Private family inurnment at North Inman Cemetery, Inman, KS..In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Inman Museum and they can be sent to Glidden-Ediger-Wiggins Funeral Home; 222 W. Euclid St., McPherson, KS. 67460.