Emma “Jo” Fryar, age 91, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, passed into Heaven at 3:00 PM on November 11, 2020 at her home. Emma was a homemaker, and after her children were grown, she worked a variety of jobs in Mt. Vernon. She was a switchboard operator at Hotel Emmerson, medical records transcriptionist at Jefferson Memorial Hospital, check printer at First Bank and Trust, and manager of Mr. Tuxedo for a number of years. She and Ben were active members of the Frog Divers Club, a CB radio club in Mt. Vernon under the handle “Kitty Kat.”
Emma was an avid Cardinals fan, and was blessed to be able to make several trips to Florida for spring training with her nephew and his wife, Roland and Brenda Lewis. She loved to travel and visited sites in New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, and Missouri, as well as various places throughout Illinois, at times with her niece Debi McCoy. Her favorite hobby was photography, which fit well with her travels. She was an active member of Casey Avenue Baptist Church for many years until health issues slowed her down. Even then, she was able to be involved through the Internet. She would want to thank Pastor Jerry Montgomery for his many visits and prayers. He and his wife, Beverly, as well as many other members were dear friends and a great encouragement to her.
A Private Graveside Service will be held. Interment will take place at Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens in Woodlawn, Illinois. Memorials may be made in Emma’s honor to the Jefferson County Animal Shelter or to Casey Avenue Baptist Church. Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
She is survived by daughter, Janet Fryar Rohlfs (Edward), daughter-in-law Janet Filberth Fryar, five grandchildren, Gwen (Paul) Lee, Carrie (Todd) Williams, Melissa (Nick) Rohlfs Koger, Matthew (Janelle) Rohlfs, and Peter (Clare) Rohlfs. She is also survived by 16 great grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.
Emma was born March 20, 1929 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, daughter of George M. McCoy and Gladys E. (Clark) McCoy. On April 6, 1947 in Jefferson County she married Ben George Fryar. He preceded her in death August 6, 2001. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ben, son, Bennie George Fryar, sister, Claire McCoy Lewis, brother, John Leon McCoy, six-year-old brother William McCoy, and infant brother George McCoy.
