Mary Collier was a Teacher.
1 TOLEDO -- Mary C. Fraker, 83, died peacefully in her home Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004.
She was born in Willard, Ohio March 31, 1921 to Elizabeth and Harley Collier. She and her family of eight siblings moved to Deshler, Ohio where they lived on a family farm for many years. In 1939 she enrolled at the Ohio State University, aided by a $100 scholarship from the Kroger Company. That scholarship paid the majority of her tuition and she supported herself by working in secretarial positions at OSU throughout her four years of college.
In 1943 she married Theodore D. (Ted) Fraker and the two moved to Tipp City where she took a teaching position in the local high school. Ted was in the Army Air Corp stationed at Wright Field in Dayton. After the war the two moved to Delaware, Ohio, where Ted attended Ohio Wesleyan University on the GI Bill. They ran a small grocery and did odd jobs to pay the bills.
After Ted graduated, they moved briefly to Oberlin, Ohio, then to Elyria, Ohio. In 1956 they moved to Mansfield, Ohio, where they spent the majority of their life. Mary taught in the Mansfield Public School system and eventually became the head of the school lunch program, a position which she held for almost 20 years. She retired in 1981 at the age of 60 so she could play more golf and spend more time watching birds, a lifelong passion. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, painting, puzzles and singing with the Sweet Adelines
For the past two years, Ted and Mary had lived at Oakleaf Village in Toledo. They enjoyed the friendship and support of the Oakleaf staff.
Mary was the strong, silent type. She loved her husband, her children and her grandchildren. She was incredibly tolerant and patient. She rarely criticized or spoke ill of anyone. Her patience and perseverance were the glue that often held the family together in tough times.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Ted Fraker, who died in October. She is survived by her son, Theodore D. Fraker, Jr., M.D., of Columbus and daughter, Mary Ann Strickling, of Tampa, Fla. Also surviving are Betsy S. Fraker, her daughter-in-law, of Columbus and five grandchildren, Brian Ranshaw of Mansfield, Teigen Fraker of Venice, Calif., Trevor Fraker of Venice, Calif., Tysen Fraker of Columbus and Erin Jones of Tampa, Florida. She is also survived by one sister, Betty Parker, of Leipsic, Ohio. A simple graveside ceremony will be held December 29. at Oakgrove Cemetery near Lexington, Ohio. The family requests no contributions.