Mary Ellen Frakes

Mary Ellen Frakes, 90, of Sioux City, passed away Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, at her home at Brookdale Senior Living. 

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 17th, 2017, at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Roger Madden officiating. Visitation with the family will be one hour before the service at the church. Condolences may be offered online at www.meyerbroschapels.com.  

Mary Ellen was born April 26, 1926, in Waterloo, IA. She was the daughter of Lee and Margaret (Mahood) Page. She grew up in Waterloo and graduated from West High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Rockford College in Rockford, IL. She did graduate work as a member of the Little Theatre of The Rockies in Greeley, CO. 

Mary Ellen began her educational career teaching English in Manchester, IA., in the fall of 1948.  

On August 17, 1951, she married Bill Frakes in Greeley, CO. They moved to Sioux City in 1952. Mary Ellen was an English and speech teacher and drama coach for the Sioux City Community School District for 20 years. She taught at North Junior, Leeds High School, and Hoover Junior High School. She retired in 1982. 

Mary Ellen was a 65-year member of First United Methodist Church where she served on various committees including the education commission.  

She was also a member of Junior League, PEO Chapter IL, and Portfolio Book Club. Mary Ellen volunteered at the Irving Elementary School Library and at the Perry Creek Public Library. 

As an active member of the Junior League of Sioux City, Mary Ellen formed the Junior League Children’s Theatre. She directed plays, and with cast and crew, she trouped live theatre to each elementary school each year in the early 1960’s. Theatre was her passion and this project fulfilled her strong philosophy that all children must be exposed to live theatre. Mary Ellen’s devotion to the theatre lives on in her granddaughter.

Mary Ellen performed on the stages of the Lamb Arts Regional Theatre and the Sioux City Community Theatre in several productions including On Golden Pond, The Cemetery Club, and Bad Seed. She also shared her dramatic talents with the Siouxland community by presenting programs to many organizations. 

Survivors include her daughter and her husband, Julie and Jim Curry of Norfolk, NE; granddaughter, Gillian Curry of New York City, NY; two sisters, Nancy Ankrum of Tiburon, CA; Sally (Jim) Stout of Albuquerque, NM and; nieces, Kathy Ankrum, Pam (Marc) McCaskill, Ellen (Jack) Steele and; nephews, Robert Ankrum, Don (Maureen) Seamonds, Timothy Stout, and Michael (Vickie) Tapavica.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and an infant brother.                                                              

Memorials will be offered to Lamb Arts Regional Theatre children’s programming, Siouxland Humane Society, and First United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made in her name and directed to Mary Ellen’s daughter, Julie Frakes Curry, in care of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.