Visitation:
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Secor Funeral Home
Willard, Ohio
Service:
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
11:00 a.m.
Secor Funeral Home
Willard, Ohio
On Thursday, February 5, Mary Fries, age 97, of Willard, Ohio went to her eternal rest. Mary was born on February 23, 1928 in Norwalk, Ohio to the late Albert and Mable (Myers) Nickoli. Mary met Harold Fries at a dance and were married in September of 1948. Dancing and music would remain an important part of their life together.
Mary was a homemaker who enjoyed gardening, canning, sewing, working jigsaw puzzles and baking. Her passion was making quilts for family members especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mary and Harold were avid card players, spending many evenings in a “men versus women” rivalry with the neighborhood Euchre Club or family members! Exercise and activity were an important part of her normal routine, playing volleyball into her 70’s and swimming yet at 90 years of age.
Mary was an active member of the Church of the Master, the Ladies Federated Circle and the local neighborhood Farm Women’s Club. She was devoted to helping others with offering meals or baking pies. She served as the Fries Farm bookkeeper and found work outside the home at the Village Pastry and Langhurst Insurance
She is survived by her children, Sandra (Dieter) Kraft, Shirley (Adam) Fries, Sheila (Mike) Buurma, Scott (Marilyn) Fries; 12 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren; daughter-in-law Bobbi (Dave) Featheringill; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Mary is preceded in death by her husband of 74-1/2 years, Harold Fries; Son, Steven Fries; infant daughter, Stacy Fries; and 4 siblings, Kenneth Nickoli, Ruth Perkins, Gladys Stierhoff, and Evelyn Nickoli.
All services will be at Secor Funeral Home in Willard, OH. Visitation is on Tuesday, February 10 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Celebration of Life Service, officiated by Pastor Dan Caudill, on Wednesday, February 11 at 11:00 a.m. Graveside service will immediately follow at the cemetery in Centerton, OH. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Church of the Master in Stueben. Online condolences can be made to Mary’s family by visiting www.secorfuneralhomes.com