John Thomas Fraley

John Thomas Tom Fraley, age 77 of Moorefield, WV, passed away Wednesday morning, July 8, 2015 at the Grant Memorial Hospital in Petersburg, WV following a long illness. He was born on October 3, 1937 in Kenova, WV a son of the late James Burgess Fraley and Eloise (Bentley) Fraley. A sister, Jennifer Diane Fraley and a brother, James Phillip Fraley also preceded him in death. Tom grew up across the river from Kenova at Catlettsburg, KY and graduated from Catlettsburg High School in 1955. It was in Catlettsburg that he began his career in funeral service with Kilgore & Collier Funeral Home. In 1957 the Fraley family moved to Beckley, WV, where he continued his life in the funeral service by serving his apprenticeship with Doug Bryant at Keyser Funeral Home of Beckley. While in Beckley, Tom met his beloved wife of 58 years, Pattie M. Applegate. He graduated in September 1960 from the Cincinnati College of Embalming and worked at various funeral homes in southern West Virginia. Tom relocated his family to Moorefield in 1970 and assumed ownership of the former Thrush Funeral Home in May 1971 and retired due to failing health from the Fraley Funeral Home in 2009. Over the years, Tom served the community as Mayor of Moorefield for two terms (1977-1986), was the past President of the South Branch Saddle Club, Past President of the Moorefield Athletic Boosters Club, Past President of the Valley View Golf Association, an Honorary Life Member of the Moorefield Volunteer Fire Company and many other organizations and boards. He was also a member of the Potomac Valley Funeral Directors Association, the WV Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. Surviving in addition to his wife, Pattie M. (Applegate) Fraley is a daughter, Jennifer K. Ferrell of Midlothian, VA; four sons, John T. Fraley, II, Jay R. & Connie Fraley, Jeffrey A. & Angela Fraley of Moorefield, WV and Jerry L. Fraley of Mendocino, CA; five grandchildren, Katelyn, Zoe, Logan, Quincy & Jayme and a great-granddaughter, Harper. A Sunset Funeral Service will be conducted 8:00 PM Saturday, July 11, 2015 at Brighton Park, 644 Fisher Road, Moorefield, WV with the Rev. Katherine C. Jackson officiating. Interment will be private at the Fraley Family Cemetery, Walnut Bottom, Fisher, WV. The family will receive friends Saturday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, at the Fraley Funeral Home Chapel, 107 Washington Street. Tom carried many flowers over the years for other families and he often felt that he had experienced his share. His wish was for memorials to be directed in his memory to the Moorefield Volunteer Fire Co.-46, 114 Kuykendall Lane, Moorefield, WV 26836, Brighton Park, 644 Fisher Rd., Moorefield, WV 26836, the Hardy County Library, 102 N Main Street, Moorefield, WV 26836 or the Hardy County Training & Resource Center, (to help teach CPR), 106 Washington St, Moorefield, WV 26836   View Tribute Video