R ichard J. Fryer, Jr. has been working in funeral service since 1978. He began in Big Bear City, California, working with a small funeral home that had just come to town. In 1984, he moved his family to Dallas, Texas so he could attend Dallas Institute of Funeral Service and receive the schooling he needed to obtain a Funeral Directors License for the State of California. In 1985, having graduated from Dallas Institute and receiving his California Funeral Directors license, he returned to California to work for a funeral home in Tulare.

A new opportunity opened up soon in Grand Junction, Colorado, where he and his family moved next. It soon became apparent that more licensing would be advantageous, so they moved to Price, Utah to obtain a Funeral Directors license from the State of Utah, after which they returned to Colorado to continue working there. In 1995, Richard had the opportunity to help start a new funeral home in Grand Junction, Colorado, where he gained valuable experience in all aspects of funeral service.

Richard and his family moved to New Hampshire in June 2000 to be closer to family members that were living there, and began working with funeral homes in New Hampshire and Vermont. The opportunity to purchase Pearsons Funeral Home presented itself in late 2004, and the purchase was made in 2005.

Some of Richard’s accomplishments include:
• a nomination to serve as Western Colorado Funeral Director Association President from November 1992 to January 1995
• serving, by request, on Colorado Funeral Director Association Education Committee from August 1993 to December 1994
• serving, by request, on the Colorado Funeral Director Association Vision Committee during 1995
• currently licensed in the States of Vermont, New Hampshire and Utah
• National Board Certified.

Kellie Ann Fryer has supported Richard in his profession since their marriage in May 1982, helping to raise their 5 children and maintain their household. Her greatest love, aside from her family and church, is music, and she has spent many years teaching children to play piano and other instruments. She is currently an assistant band instructor for the beginning instrumental students in the White Mountain Regional School District in Whitefield, New Hampshire. She also teaches piano lessons out of her home. She assists Richard at Pearsons Funeral Home as needed.