Evelyn Friend

Evelyn Eileen Friend, 86, of Grantsville and formerly of Oakland, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, May 8, 2017, surrounded by her family.  Born on June 16, 1930, in Oakland, she was the daughter of the late Clyde C. and Zelda A. (Stemple) Gnegy.  Eileen was a loving mother and grandmother who was appreciated dearly.  She will long be remembered by her family for her loving hugs, delicious meals and pies, kind words, beautiful chorus' and listening ear.  She always had a special place in her heart for every child, grandchild and great grandchild.  Eileen worked as a long-distance operator for the C & P Telephone Company in Washington, D.C.  After retirement, Eileen was known in the area for her little country shop in the old Gnegy Planing Mill with baked goods and crafts, known as Eileen's Country Market, and, later, the Mission Attic, a second-hand store affiliated with Bethel United Methodist Church, that gave all proceeds to missions.  Eileen was a missionary to Russia and Bolivia, where she helped to construct an orphanage for street children in Sucre, Bolivia.  She loved children and valued her time in Bolivia.  She was a member of the Bethel United Methodist Church, where she sang in the church choir and helped with numerous mission projects.  She loved to sing and sang in church choirs for over 40 years.  Even though she suffered from Parkinson's disease and could not talk for the last few years of her life, she still loved to sing hymns and sang them clear up until her death.  She is survived by her children, Donna Friend of Beltsville, Danny Friend and wife Barbara of MD, and Jeannie Frazee and husband David of Oakland; grandchildren, Michael Lohr and wife Michele, Will Hall and wife Heather, Kerri Hall, Amanda Stein, Hannah Frazee and Elisa Frazee; great grandchildren, Christina Lohr, Trinity Lohr, Ryder and Wyatt Hall, Promise Harvey and Joseph Stein, Jr.; additional family, June Sweitzer; her sister, Mary Jane Rickets of MI; her brother, Robert Gnegy of WA; and numerous nieces and nephews.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Friend, in 2004; her brother, John Gnegy; a grandson, Toby Frazee; and a great granddaughter, Cheyenne Stein.  Friends and relatives will be received at the C & S Fredlock Funeral Home, P.A., 21 N 2nd St., Oakland on Thursday, May 11th from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM.  A funeral service will be held in the Bethel United Methodist Church, 701 Baltimore Ave., Mt. Lake Park on Friday, May 12th at 12 PM with Pastor Mark Hickman officiating.  Interment will follow in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Garrett County, PO Box 271, Oakland, MD 21550.