UVerna Frye Lorenz passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 in Falls City, Nebraska. She was born on June 24, 1917 to Edward & Ella (Dunn) Rodgers in Elbing, Kansas. The family relocated to Reserve when she was a child. She lived most of her life in Reserve, Kansas.

She married Thomas Samuel Frye on February 1, 1942. After his Service in the U.S. Army they settled in Reserve, KS and raised 6 children. Mr. Frye passed away in 1974.

On December 24, 1993 she married John R (JR) Lorenz. Mr. Lorenz passed away in 2007.

UVerna is survived by 5 children; Kenneth (Julia) Frye, Glasgow, KY; Ann (Greg) Hladky, Topeka, KS; Les (Mary) Frye and Dean Frye, Tulsa, OK; Gary (Sher'ree) Frye, Falls City, NE.  She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, 17 Great Grandchildren and 2 Great Great Grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, a son, Roger; three sisters and a brother.

UVerna lived a full 103+ years.

Most people were intrigued with the spelling of her name. There's a reason!  The story goes, her mother had seen a poem in the newspaper written by a woman named, "Uverna". She loved the name and used it for her daughter. As she grew older, she decided she liked her name better with a capital U and a capital V, thus she became "UVerna" (except on her birth certificate and most legal documents!).

She grew up with 3 sisters; Gertrude, Anna and Marjorie, and 1 brother, Edward (Bud). Of the girls, she was the one, "outside with dad most of the time".

She attended Little Chapel Grade School and graduated from Reserve High School. She was the last surviving member of the Class of '35.

She continued her education at Highland Community College and Emporia Teachers College. She taught school for 5 years.

For 17 years she worked nights as a Nurse's Aide at Falls City Community Hospital, while also raising her family.

As a youth, her dream was to pursue Teaching or Nursing. She accomplished both!

She enjoyed spending time with her large family. It didn't matter how big the crowd, or how small the house, everyone was welcome!

In addition to working and caring for her family, she enjoyed gardening, quilting, birdwatching & road trips!

She traveled through many of the States of the USA, enjoying landmarks and monuments. In September 2012, on a trip to Kentucky, she was noted as being the oldest person to hike into Mammoth Cave. Many of these trips were full of adventure! From being towed up Pikes Peak to having a fire alarm pulled in a hotel in the "Twin Cities", there was never a dull moment!

When her son, Dean, was in the Navy, she traveled to Greece to be with him at Christmas. On her trip to Greece the flight had a stop in Ireland, they were not allowed to "deboard", which was a disappointment to her because she wanted to put her feet on the ground of her heritage. She was proud of her Irish roots!

Her grandkids enjoyed adventure-filled summer visits to "Grandma Frye's house"! Horseback riding, picnics, swimming at Sycamore Springs. One year there was even some "crop trimming"! No one was going to "just sit around" at her house & in her words, "get lonesome and then want to go home!" She cherished their time together!

Her long life afforded her the gift of having two more generations of grandchildren. She loved that they called her "GG"! It goes without saying these children captured her heart!

Many people became familiar with her homemaking skills when they tasted her Rye Bread, Apple Butter, Cornmeal Rolls or Springerles. "Many times imitated, never duplicated!"

She was a Lifetime Member of WSG. At the First United Methodist Church in Falls City, she contributed many hours, and space at her home, for making a quilt for the annual "Lord's Acre" sale. The quilts became a coveted item and raised funds for the church.

She was also a proud member of the "Jolly 17ers" a group of women who were born in 1917. They had annual get togethers and rotated which State they would meet for their gatherings. This also provided her another chance to travel!

In a video for her 100th birthday, her response to how she'd like to be remembered was, "being Jolly". She also said she always had a smile for people, but, with a chuckle, "don't cross me!"

The love she had for the Lord and gave to others, can only be surpassed by the love her family had for her. God blessed us to let her be on this Earth for nearly 104 years!

UVerna was inspired by her granddaughter, Susan, who is a Nurse, to bequeath her body to KU Medical Center for the educational benefit of Nursing & Medical students.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m.  Friday, March 12th at the First United Methodist Church in Falls City, NE.  Pastor Young Je Kim will officiate.

Friends may sign the register book at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Hiawatha,

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to First United Methodist Church of Falls City and may be sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7 ^th St., Hiawatha 66434.

www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com

The service will be livestreamed thru the funeral home facebook page:

Chapel Oaks Hiawatha & Highland Ks