Eleanor R. and Leo F. Frey Memorial Endowment

Eleanor was the oldest of 17 children and was born and raised in Kent County. She attended Barry County Normal School and earned her education degree at Western Michigan University.

Eleanor met Leo while teaching summer school in Valparaiso and living in the boarding house right next door to Leo. They married in 1936 and together they raised two sons and two daughters.

Eleanor was a teacher in a Battle Creek country school: a one-room school house for 20 years. She continued her teaching career for 20 more years at Lincoln School District and taught fifth and sixth grades. Eleanor was also a 4-H leader for 40 years in the Banfield and Barry county clubs. She taught gardening, sewing and cooking.

According to Leo, “Children were a passion of Eleanor’s and she just loved working with kids and watching them learn new things.”

Leo was a farmer in his young adult years and later worked for Pet Milk Farms. He worked for the Kellogg Company from 1953-1976. Leo was a 50-year member of the Bedford Masonic Lodge 207. He was also active with the Shriners Clubs and a member of the Battle Creek Scottish Rite Club. He was often seen transporting children to the Shriners Hospital in Chicago and the Shrine Circus in Grand Rapids. In his final years, Leo lived at NorthPointe Woods.

Eleanor and Leo were Barry County residents for 50 years.