Garvin J Fryar, devoted husband, father of four, grandfather, and friend and mentor to many, passed away after a short illness on the morning of October 8, 2022, in his home, surrounded by family.

Garvin was born on December 13, 1939, in Clovis, New Mexico, to John Wiley and Willie Grimes Fryar. After graduating from Clovis High School on May 16, 1957, having played the lead role in the school’s drama presentation Harvey, and serving as Senior Class President, he went on to study Chemical Engineering at the University of New Mexico. Garvin graduated on June 7, 1961, with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.

While at university he married his high school sweetheart, Guarry Dell Hammack on June 14, 1958, and remained happily married for 59 years. After graduation, Garvin and his small family moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma to work for Continental Oil Company as a Process Design Engineer in the Process Engineering Department (PED). Rising to the rank of Senior Supervising Process Engineer in PED, Garvin finished his career at Conoco Inc. in 1994 as Senior Supervising Engineer of the Engineering Services Department.

In addition to his work life, Garvin had a busy and productive personal life. He particularly enjoyed coaching his sons’ baseball games and his daughter’s softball games. When not coaching, he could always be spotted in the stands cheering on his children’s sports endeavors. Garvin was also service minded and spent much time supporting local organizations including serving as a board member for Ponca City Kids, Incorporated, and as the director of the Camp Fire Girls Board. Other passions included hunting, fishing, and conducting genealogical research where he spent numerous hours in libraries, and county offices poking through moldy old papers and travelling locally and internationally to search for records.

After retirement, Garvin spent much of his spare time as a loving grandfather to his seven grandchildren, teaching them to play ball, introducing them to local culture, and taking them to view the local prairie dog habitats. He thoroughly enjoyed his time spent volunteering at the Ponca City Medical Center and the Outpatient Surgical Center, where he volunteered for twenty-five years. He also spent many enjoyable years volunteering for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

Garvin is survived by his daughter Terri Collins (Gary) of Houston, Texas, son Tracy Fryar (Michelle) of Ponca City, Oklahoma, daughter Tammi Dragg (Tom) of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and son Trent Fryar (Kim) of Austin, Texas; and grandchildren Sophie Collins, Tori and Trevor Fryar, Aliya and Lexis Dragg, and Cheyenne and Saxon Fryar. He was preceded in death by his parents, his older sister Juanice Lesher, and his wife Guarry Fryar.

At his personal request, there will be no formal service. The family would like to thank aide Amanda McCormick of Ray of Sunshine for her sweet and gentle care over the last few days and the Hospice of North Central Oklahoma for their kind and loving attention to our father and making it possible for him to stay in the home he loved. Garvin will be profoundly missed by both family and friends.

Paid Obituary