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Submitted: 7/10/14 • Approved: 7/1/16 • Last Updated: 7/4/16 • R1020313-G1020313-S3
July 5, 1920 - May 23, 2014
*Obituary
westbrookfuneralhome.com
Lomelia “Tootsie” Dean Fye, age 93, of Little Rock, Arkansas passed away peacefully, from natural causes, on Friday, May 23, 2014.
Willie Lomelia Dean, the middle of three girls, was born July 5, 1920 in El Paso, Arkansas, which is located in White County, to the late John Hollie Dean and Ann (Blassingame) Dean. Her family moved to Beebe, where she proudly graduated from Beebe High School in 1939. Tootsie went on to briefly attend classes at what is now, ASU Beebe before she met her husband, Dan Fye, at a USO dance. They were married on July 28, 1942 in Little Rock.
Dan, being career military, was stationed around the United States, as well as Europe. During their 34 years of marriage, they lived in Vermont, Georgia, California, and Germany to name the favorites. Tootsie loved the traveling and enjoyed making friends, attending parties and volunteering with multiple civic organizations wherever they went. Along with her service, she enjoyed making a home and raising their three children: Liz, Mike (Dan) and Pris. During summers and holidays, they would take their family to the working ranch near Mt. Magazine, where Tootsie’s parents lived. Tootsie enjoyed spending time with her parents, sisters, nieces and nephews.
After Dan retired from the service and instructing at Culver Military Academy, the couple permanently relocated back to Little Rock to be closer to Tootsie’s parents and other family. She most enjoyed cooking, entertaining, antiquing, collecting rocks, and listening to Big Band and orchestral music. She will be most remembered for her quick tongue and sharp wit. You never knew what she would do or say when she walked in the room, but you were more than certain not to forget it once she walked out. That is how she will be remembered best by those who knew and loved her.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Dan Fye; older sister, Hollye Byrd Arnold; daughter, Liz Friedricksen and Son, Mike (Dan) Fye.
She is survived by daughter, Pris (Bill) Houchens of Sheridan; grandsons, Don Friedricksen of Ithaca, New York, Brandon Fye of Franklin, Tennessee, JD Houchens of Little Rock; sister, Ann Harris of Little Rock; nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff of Sheridan Nursing and Rehab for years of dedicated care.
A Graveside Service will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday May 29, 2014 at Grissard Cemetery in El Paso, Arkansas, where she will be buried among family.
Arrangements by Westbrook, a Smith Family Funeral Home.
Photo submitted by slholloway@centurytel.net
Contributed on 7/10/14 by hawkinsdonna
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Record #: 1020313