Obituary: Robert "Bob" Fraley

Robert Fraley

April 26, 1933 - Jan. 24, 2021

Robert Wayne Fraley, known to all as Bob, was born April 26th, 1933 in Bend, Ore., to Cyril
and Marie (Schilling) Fraley. 

Bob grew up in Maupin, Ore., with his 2 brothers, Donald and Darrell. The Fraley Family
settled in Maupin in the early 1900s and owned a market, garage, gas station and The
Rainbow Cafe (now Rainbow Tavern). 

In 1942, Bob moved with his family for one year to Virginia while his father was in boot
camp during WWII. When his father left for active duty in the Navy, his Mother moved
her boys to The Dalles, Ore. After the War, Bob’s sister, Sandra was born. 

Bob married Dawn Bryan in 1955, and they had 2 daughters, Charla and Karen.
In July 1955, Bob was hired to The Dalles Police Department as a Police Officer and
worked there until 1964.  He was recruited by Ray Schultens and worked for him as a
Sales Manager until he became an Insurance Agent for Farmers Insurance.  Eventually,
he became an independent Insurance Broker and Owner of Columbia Gorge Insurance
Agency. 

Bob still owned three commercial properties downtown The Dalles. The buildings are all
located on West 2nd Street. They are Columbia Gorge Insurance Office, Qwik-Change Lube
Center, and Zim’s Restaurant and Sports Bar.

Bob was a pilot and owned two airplanes for several years. He was also an accomplished
water skier. In his early years, he raced stock cars. He took up snow skiing in his mid-40s.

He met Susan Robert’s in 1992, and she became his long-term partner until he
passed.  Bob and Sue enjoyed dancing, traveling in their motorhome and went on
several cruises. They lived in Lyle, Wash., on High Prairie until 2019 where they both
enjoyed the peaceful prairie with their beloved dogs. Bob built a huge shop there and
enjoyed tinkering with his tractors and projects in his retirement years.

In November of 2019, he and Sue moved to The Dalles to be closer to family. On
January 24, 2021, Bob passed away with his family by his side.

He is survived by his brother Donald and sister Sandra; his daughters, Charla Fraley
(Rick Farris), Karen Frank (Brian Frank); grandchildren, Jackie Tharp (Leroy Tharp),
Carrie Herman (Seth Gray), Oscar Farris (Jordan Flores), and Max Farris; great-grandchildren Kirsten Dawson (Bruce Dawson), Madison Troutt, Abigail Cummings, Jamusin Gray, Samuel Gray, Isaiah Farris.

Bob is also survived by Sue Roberts and her two sons Troy, Ryan and Ryan’s wife Sarah and their twins Josh and Sadie.

 Per Bob’s request, any service will be private.