© The Bakersfield Californian

8 August 2004

REVEREND PERRY E. FRAZE
March 21, 1923 - August 4, 2004

Visitation for Pastor Perry E. Fraze will be held at Basham Funeral Care (3312 Niles Street) on Monday evening, August 9, 2004 from 5-8 p.m. and funeral services will be held at Delano First Assembly of God (2222 9th Avenue) on Tuesday morning, August 10, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. His pastor and friend, Pastor David Mushegan will officiate and interment will follow at Delano Cemetery.

Perry E. Fraze was born to Sally and William Fraze in Guthrie, Oklahoma on March 21, 1923 and he went home to be with his Lord and Savior in Bakersfield on August 4, 2004 with his family by his side. He married the love of his life, Clara Moore, in Anadarko, Oklahoma on January 24, 1942. They began their ministry and moved to Bakersfield, California shortly thereafter. Their ministry spanned 50 years before their retirement to Santa Maria. Pastor Fraze enjoyed a short retirement prior to a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. He and his wife relocated to Bakersfield in August 2003 to be near their immediate family.

Recreational activities that gave Pastor Fraze pleasure during his life included fishing at Balch Park, deep sea fishing, baseball - both as a player and spectator (his favorite team was the Dodgers) and watching football - mainly the 49ers - and later, traveling with his best friend and wife, Clara, to his home state of Oklahoma and to various locations on the East Coast. His favorite pastime was simply being with his family playing with the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He loved fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits with sorghum, homemade ice cream, and watermelon. As a young boy, he could hit a bird on the fly or a rabbit on the run with his slingshot.

Pastor Fraze is preceded in death by his two grandsons, Bobby Taylor and Vernon Taylor; brothers, Charles Allen Fraze and Douglas Laverne Fraze; sisters, Anna Maye and Mildred Lowrey and special uncle, Rufus Fraze. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Clara Moore Fraze; daughter, Patricia Arehart; daughter, Loretta Townson-Katano and her husband, Danny; daughter, Madeline Sexton and her husband, Jim; son, Perry Dennis Fraze "Precious" and his wife, Susan; son-in-law, Coy Townson I; daughter-in-law, Wanda Newton; sisters, Virginia Rochelle, Alma, Donna Ruth, Wanda Lee, and Helen; granddaughter, Rhonda Wachsnict and her husband, Damon; granddaughter, Nonda Ford and her husband, Bill; grandson, Coy Townson II and his wife, Jennifer; granddaughter, Christina Fraze; granddaughter, Charlotte Fraze; grandson, Christopher Fraze; grandson, James Tyler Sexton; grandson, Justin Lynn; great grandchildren, Cheyenne and Russel Ford, Coy Townson III, Morgan and Grace Elizabeth Townson, and Jay Lee and Amber Lyon and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends and church family members.

The family would like to extend their special thanks to their angels Patricia Stumbaugh, Cherice Shah, Joaquin Reyes, the nurses and staff members at Shafter Convalescent Health Care and Evergreen Health Care and Dr. Michael Komin and Dr. Robert Hagen. Pastor Fraze's favorite Bible verse sums up his life:

2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

For additional service or floral delivery information, please contact Basham Funeral Care 873-8200

Basham Funeral Care

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