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Fred Thomas Friday was born on December 30, 1911, in Friday, Texas, to M. M. and Liddie Friday. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, and had five brothers and three sisters. Fred was graduated from West Columbia High School in 1930, and, in 1932, from Massey Business College of Houston, where he studied Business Accounting and Business Law. He worked in Houston for a time as a court reporter for a salary of twenty dollars a week. Fred moved from Sweeny to Bay City in 1933, when the population of Bay City was 3,500 persons, and was employed as a public stenographer in the office of Charles V. Yeamans. He entered into business in 1936, and operated his own business until he retired from Gulf Oil Corporation in 1972, and became a municipal court judge. Fred served in the United States Navy from 1943-45, and was assigned to duty in Southwestern Pacific as a chief fire fighter.
Fred joined the Bay City Volunteer Fire Department in 1934, when the
department consisted of one fire engine. He served as fire chief for
seventeen years, became executive director in 1955, and remained
active after fifty years of service.
Fred married Margaret Pearl Anderson of Bay City on September 13,
1936 at the First Baptist Church of Bay City. She was born in Bay
City, on June 15, 1917, the daughter of R. Lee and Lucy Lowe
Anderson of Bay City. Her brothers were Robert F., Tom, and Roy
Anderson all of Bay City, and her sister was Maybelle Anderson
Harper of McGehee, Arkansas. Fred and Pearl met her father one
evening to tell him of their marriage intentions. He remarked, “The
only problem will be that we will have Friday at our house every day
of the week.” Pearl was graduated from Bay City High School in 1934, and the Hoard School of Business in 1943. She was a housewife and worked in the business with Fred. Her hobbies were playing bridge and her service to the First Baptist Church. Before her death on May 25, 1983, Pearl was active in the First Baptist Church, Study Club, Garden Club, Eastern Star, Rainbow Girls, and the Multi-State Adventure Club of America. She and Fred traveled to forty-seven states and Canada by travel trailer.
Fred was an active member of the City Council for fourteen years,
vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, a school board member,
president of the Gulf Coast Shrine Club, president of the Gulf Coast
Conservation and Reclamation Association, and Fire Defense
Coordinator for Matagorda, Wharton, and Brazoria counties during
World War II. Fred became a member of the First Baptist Church of
Bay City in 1935, and was a member of Masonic Lodge #865 and the
Eastern Star. Fred recalled when he moved to Bay City in 1933, the main attraction for youths was meeting incoming trains, and drinking cokes at The Alcove and Eties Café. On dates they walked to fifteen cent movies on The Square, and the only paved streets were Seventh Street and Sixth Street from Avenue F to the square.
Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, pages 166-167 |
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Funeral services for Fred T. Friday, 78, will be held 11 a. m. Saturday at First Baptist Church with Dr. W. D. Baker officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Park, Van Vleck. Mr. Friday was born Dec. 31, 1910, in Friday, Texas, and died Aug. 2, 1989, at Matagorda General Hospital, Bay City. He moved from Trinity to Sweeny as a young boy and came to Bay City in 1932. He was a member of the Baptist church and Masonic Lodge. He was a Shriner, former fire chief, former member of the Bay City Independent School District board of trustees, former city councilmember board member for the Port of Bay City and municipal court judge. Survivors include two daughters, Frances Friday and Donna Friday Baur, both of Houston; a son, Fred L. Friday of Chattanooga; two sisters, Ada Akawalas and Lucille Long both of Sweeny; four brothers, Eldridge Friday, Garland Friday, Woodrow Friday and Guy Friday, all of Sweeny; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Pallbearers include Garland Hinman, Harold Martin, Steve Friday, Howard Long, Wayne Wainner and Henry Hildrith. Honorary pallbearers include the members of the Bay City Volunteer Fire Department. Arrangements are with Taylor Brother Funeral Home, Bay City.
The
Daily Tribune, August, 1989
Courtesy of Faye Cunningham |
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Photo courtesy of Faye
Cunningham |
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Services will be held for Margaret Pearl Friday, 65, of Bay City, 4 pm Friday at First Baptist Church in Bay City. Officiating at the services will be Dr. W. D. Baker. Friday died May 25, 1983 at Matagorda General Hospital. Survivors include her husband, Fred T. Friday of Bay City; daughters, Frances Friday of Houston, Donna Friday Baur of Houston; son, Fred Lee Friday of Chattanooga, Tennessee; sister, Maybelle Harper of McGehee, Arkansas; brothers Robert F. Anderson Jr., Thomas J. Anderson and Roy Lee Anderson all of Bay City; 8 grandchildren. Friday was an active member of the First Baptist Church and the Eastern Star. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Park, Van Vleck. Pallbearers include Harold W. Martin, Glen White, Albert R. Garcia, Morris Richardson, Tommy Anderson and Ray Wainner. Arrangements under the direction of Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.
The Daily Tribune,
Thursday, May 26, 1983
Courtesy of Faye Cunningham |
