Ridgeley, WV - Monsignor Patrick Lee Fryer, 85, of Gerrardstown, W.Va., formerly of Ridgeley, W.Va., passed away May 23, 2026, at Country House, Cumberland, Md.

Born Nov. 9, 1940, in Cumberland, he was the son of the late Mayor Charles H. and Elizabeth A. "Bessie" (Malamphy) Fryer Sr. He was also preceded in death by brothers, Joseph P. Fryer and Charles H. "Brother" Fryer Jr.; and his beloved sister, Camilla Rae Whiteman.

Monsignor Fryer was a 1959 graduate of Ridgeley High School. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy for four years, serving on the aircraft carriers USS Essex and part of the first crew to man the new USS Constellation. After completion, he entered the Sacred Heart Monastery on his divine journey of being ordained a Roman Catholic priest. He was ordained Aug. 18, 1973, by the Most Rev. James Walsh, M.M., at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Cumberland.

His first assignment was at Holy Assumption Parish in West Alice, Wis., until 1974, when he reenlisted in the U.S. Navy as a chaplain. During his naval career, he was assigned at various duty stations, including Yokosuka, Japan; Rota, Spain; Pensacola NAS, Fla., where he was the Blue Angel Naval Demonstration Team Chaplain; Philadelphia, Pa.; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Norfolk, Va.; and San Diego Naval Base, Calif., where he was Command Chaplain of the Pacific Fleet Chaplains of the U.S. Navy.

He was assigned to the Pentagon as executive assistant to the chief of all chaplains of the U.S. Navy. His final duty station was as the command chaplain at Quantico Marine Corps Base, Va. His naval command positions had him travel to many places, including Naval Support Force, New Zealand, Japan, McMurdo Station, Antarctica, as well as Sea Duty on the USS Coral Sea as a command battle force chaplain.

Monsignor Fryer was awarded many Naval and Marine Corps operational achievements: Legion of Merit Gold Star 2nd device, Navy and Marine Corps Meritorious Medal Gold Star 2nd device, and the Navy Commendation Medal Gold Star 3rd device. During his Navy career, Monsignor Fryer was incardinated into the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in 1983. He was assigned as pastor of St. Paul Catholic Church and School in Weirton, W.Va., from 2002 to 2005, and St. Joseph Catholic Church and School in Martinsburg, W.Va., from 2006 to 2012, where he retired from his active ministry in 2012 to his mountaintop home in Gerrardstown. Along the way, he managed to marry his brother Steve and wife Cathy, nephew Bucky Whiteman and wife Brenda; and baptize most of his nieces' and nephews' children.

He was a member of Council #586, Knights of Columbus.

Survivors include his brother, Stephen Fuller Fryer and wife Cathy, Wiley Ford; sisters, Mary Elizabeth Andrews, Keyser; Sheila Ann Mickey and friend Richard, Ridgeley; sister-in-law, Nellie Fryer, Ridgeley; brother-in-law, Roy "Buck" Whiteman, Ridgeley; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to the staff at Country House for all of the great care they have given him over the past two years. Also, a special thanks to the care given from the Veterans Administration Home Based Primary Care, Cumberland.

Visitation will be at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Cumberland, Monday, June 1, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick Catholic Church on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 1 p.m., with the Most Rev. Mark E. Brennan as celebrant.

Interment will be in Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery, Cumberland, where military honors will be accorded.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Anthony Catholic Church, 176 Main St., Ridgeley, WV 26753; or Council 586, Inc. Knights of Columbus, 66 N. Mechanic St., Cumberland, MD 21502.