With deep love and profound sadness, we announce the passing of Gilbert George "Butch" Fryer, Sr., (81 on 3/15/22), and Dorothy Ann (Dyer) Fryer (82 on 5/7/24) both of Hope Valley, Rhode Island.

Their love story had its start in the summer of 1960, when a young US Navy CB named Gilbert stationed at Quonset Point met a young executive secretary named Dorothy. They were married the following August in Providence, beginning their 60+ year trek through life together. After moving to Milwaukee near his family to start theirs, they returned to welcome their 3rd of 9 eventual children. First settled in Warwick, Gilbert was a proud Teamster truck driver and master navigator for his entire professional career. Dorothy was an enthusiastic homemaker and lived her calling to raise and nurture children, all while sharing her creative skills to inspire them to live their best life. The two of them celebrated over 60 years of love and family...always opening their home to family dinners for the next generations of the family they had created. Dorothy loved to create-from the handmade clothing for the first six of their children to the hand laid slate floors and hand painted decor in their home, to keeping journals of her daily trials of raising a large family. Their return to RI was in a Conimicut rental and then bought their first home in Oakland Beach before finding their final home in Hope Valley in 1977. Along the way, they renovated a school bus to a camper in which they enjoyed many weekends at the Warwick Sportsman's Club among other outdoor locations. Dorothy became well known as a premier breeder of Yorkshire Terriers and Maltese for over 30 years, and Gilbert added volunteer fire fighter to his resume, all while enjoying annual hunting trips with his brothers, cousins, friends and sons, and cultivating his vegetable garden. He loved to grill, smoke and prepare and share the efforts of those pursuits. They both did whatever they could to support their children's, grandchildren's and great grandchildren's lives, enjoying country music (live when possible) and in later years Bob Dylan concerts and visits to Foxwoods Casino.

Both Gilbert and Dorothy were preceded in death by their respective parents, Gilbert George and Lorraine Alma (Olsen) Fryer, and Thomas Frances and Fay A. (Eddy) Dyer. Gilbert was also preceded in death by his oldest sister, Barbara (Don), and his brother Ron and his wife Judy. They were both preceded in death by their daughter, Kathleen Mary, and grandchildren, (Sue) Michael and Michelle Parizau. Left to relive the good ole' days are Gilbert's siblings, sister Pat (Cynowa) and brother Bob (Donna). Dorothy is survived by her sister Helen (Antonio) Antonizio, brother Johnny (Patricia), brother Thomas (Deb), sister Frances (Tom) Suita, and brother Jim (Lauren). They are both survived by cousins, nephews, nieces and friends. They are survived by their children, Susan Vidoni, Gilbert George Jr. (Denise), JudyBeth McNeil (Eric), Darryl (Sue), Thomas (JoAnn), Richard (Meghan), Robert (Christy), and Barbara (Jimmy) McGovern. They also left behind 18 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren to cherish their memory and live their legacy.

Following their cremations, Gilbert and Dorothy were laid to rest together with full military honors at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery after a private family memorial service on Friday, July 24.