. Shirley Fries

Shirley Mae (Schneider) Fries, age 75, of Greenville, passed away early Tuesday morning, December 1, 2009. Shirley was born May 5, 1934 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Jessie L. and Vern J. Schneider. A 1952 graduate of Ottawa Hills High School, Shirley loved cheerleading and was voted “Best Female Dancer” of her senior class. Shirley would readily admit to being very opinionated and often out-spoken. She firmly believed one person could, in fact, “fight City Hall” and that if you wanted something done, “don’t mess around with the middle man, go right to the top.” She thrived on challenges and thoroughly enjoyed analyzing problems. She often took the side of the “underdog”. Shirley was an avid reader all her life and enjoyed sewing, knitting, and all needlecrafts. During her lifetime Shirley volunteered many hours and served in various leadership roles/board positions for civic and community organizations such as Satterlee School PTA, Sunshine Hospital Guild, Montcalm County Chapter of Michigan Society for Mental Health, Community Action Committee of Greenville, Chamber of Commerce of Greenville, Michigan State Federation of Women’s Clubs: Greenville Junior Women’s Club, Delphian Club of Greenville, Greenville Federation of Women’s Club, Montcalm County Federation and West Central District Federation of Women’s Clubs. Shirley’s first employer was in the accounting department of Michigan Bell Telephone from 1952 until 1955 when she married C. Bartelle Fries of Greenville and subsequently had two sons, Randall Bartelle and Scott Lance. After her sons were older, Shirley worked part-time for Credithrift Financial Corporation, First Congregational Church of Greenville, Chamber of Commerce of Greenville, and the Greenville Planning Commission. However, Shirley’s most beloved position was Managing Director of Danish Festival, Inc. which she held from 1976 to 1985. While Festival Director, Shirley authored and published a manual for festival directors called “Festival – An Inside Look at a Community Celebration”. Following her divorce in 1987, Shirley relocated to Grand Rapids, MI for 7 years and worked for the Grand Rapids Downtown Management Board and Oven Fresh Bakeries. The next two years were spent in Largo, FL living with her sister, Marilyn, and working at the Home Shopping Network. Her return to Michigan in 1996 brought her back to Greenville where she spent her remaining years. Of the awards and honors Shirley received throughout the years, one of the most important to her was being selected by the Danish Festival to preside as Grand Marshal of the Grand Dansk parade in August of 1996 because of the great love she has always held for this annual festival and her adopted community of Greenville. Preceding her in death were her mother, father, and two sisters, Beverly Mickam and Marilyn Hoy. Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Terri Fries of Fenwick and Scott and Renee Fries of Grand Rapids. Grandchildren – Shawn and Molly Fries of Greenville, Nick Fries of Fenwick, Miranda and Steven Mann of Cape Coral, FL, Sarah Fries and Meghan Fries of Grand Rapids. Great-grandchildren – Logan Mann and Skyler Fries. Also surviving are many other very beloved family members including brother and sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. The family would like to extend their personal gratitude to the many doctors, nurses, hospital and long-term care staff members that assisted and cared for Shirley these last few months. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions would be appreciated by the family to the American Cancer Society. Relatives and friends may meet the family on Thursday evening from 7-9 or on Friday afternoon from 2-3 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday at Marshall Funeral Home, Greenville, MI. www.marshallfuneralhomeinc.com