Hannah Jean (Mendenhall) Fry

Hannah Jean Mendenhall Fry, 97, of Orem, passed away Monday, June 20th, 2022. Born December 30, 1924, as the last of eight children to Hannah Bird and Richard Lovell Mendenhall, Hannah found a best friend in her older sister Catherine. Together they caused trouble in their Mapleton neighborhood, throwing rocks at dead, bloated sheep and trying to run away with their baby carriages until the local hobo scared them into returning home.

Hannah married her high school sweetheart, Charlie Fry on January 23, 1943. Together they started their family with a son Michael, soon to be followed by a daughter, Carolyn. The baby boom really got started after Charlie returned home from WWII with the addition of Larry and Dennis. The family then moved to Anaheim, California. During this time Brent, Kathy, and Randy joined the family. Life in California consisted of weekly trips to the beach, dirt biking, fireworks and an endless Relief Society President calling for Hannah, making Kathy believe she worked for the church. For two weeks every summer, they made a stop in Utah to visit with family, creating lifelong friendships between the cousins; something that was important to Hannah and Charlie.

Eventually, they returned to Utah permanently where they were sealed in the Provo temple on October 13, 1979. At this time, Hannah worked at Pykettes Clothing and Apparel, a job she truly loved. In her later years, she enjoyed camping trips, snowbirding in St. George and Arizona, going to the movies, lunches with her sister-in-law, LaRae and reading more books than humanly possible. Hannah had a kind heart and was truly loved by everyone around her. Anyone who met her has a memory of time spent with “Grandma Hannah.”

Hannah is survived by her seven children: Michael (Linda) Fry of Texas, Carolyn (Jerry) Pierce of California, Larry (Chris) Fry of Utah, Dennis (Erin) Fry of California, Brent Fry of Utah, Kathryn (Nicholas) Olson of Utah, Randy (Shelia) Fry of Utah; 20 grandchildren, 57 great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie and seven siblings.

The family would like to express gratitude for the many friends, family, neighbors, and ward members that supported and loved Hannah throughout her life.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 30, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS church on 355 E Center Street Springville, Utah. A viewing for friends and family will be held Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the LDS church on 355 E Center Street, Springville and again on Thursday just prior to the service from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery located at 1997 E 400 S.

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