John Friley

(From Brenner Mortuary)

John Richard Friley, 73, of Plano, Texas, passed away on May 6, 2018 at the Arbor Hills Memory Care of Texas.

He was born December 22, 1944 at Texarkana, Arkansas to Paul Brougher and Elma Jean (Moore) Friley.

John spent his early childhood in Texarkana. In 1953, the family moved to Pittsburg, Kansas where he attended Pittsburg public schools. John enjoyed playing baseball and football, played trumpet in the band and was an active member of MYF.

The family moved to Kansas City, Kansas in 1961, where John attended and graduated from Shawnee Mission High School, where he excelled in math and science. After which, John enrolled in the College of Engineering, Kansas State University, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in May 1967. John received a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship to pursue a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Kansas State, which he completed in May 1969. His Graduated Fellowship was extended to pursue a PHD and he enrolled in Purdue University in Indiana in September 1968.

In early 1969, John enlisted in the US Army. He was stationed for duty at Deseret Test Center, Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. He was honorably discharged from the Army, resumed his studies at Purdue, and received his PHD in Mechanical Engineering in the Spring of 1975.

Following graduation, John accepted a job in research at Battelle Laboratory in Richland, Washington. He retired from Battelle in December 2002. He remained in Richland until early 2017, when in declining health, he moved to Plano, Texas to be near his brother, Chuck.

John is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Mary Friley; a niece, Stephanie Friley Trahan; a nephew, Paul B. Friley, II.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A graveside service will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday at the Highland Park Cemetery with Rev. Mark Chambers officiating. Burial will follow in the Highland Park Cemetery. Friends are requested to meet at the cemetery. Friends may also leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg, KS.