Obituary for Ronald “Barry” Frick

Barry Frick

May 24, 1948 – March 17, 2024

Ronald Barry Frick of Ponca City, OK, was born to Ron and Trudy (Horinek) Frick on May 24th, 1948, and passed away peacefully from heart and kidney failure on March 17, 2024 at, age 75. Barry was the first of their eight children. Viewing will be from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Thursday, March 21, 2024, with a Rosary Ceremony at 6:00 PM, at Trout Funeral Home Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, March 22, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Father Carson Krittenbrink officiating. Burial will be at 1:00 PM, Friday, March 22, 2024 Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK, 74601.

Barry was a lifelong Roman Catholic who attended St. Mary’s School for the full twelve years. He was State President of the youth group, Sodality of Our Lady, at 14 and 15 years of age, attended Boy’s State, and was Senior Patrol Leader of Boy Scout Troop Five. In his teen and young adult years he sang lead in several rock bands. He attended college in the Honors Program at the Jesuit College Rockhurst in Kansas City majoring in theology for one semester, attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City for a year with an art scholarship, and studied in art at Northern Oklahoma College.

Barry, as he was known by all, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, a serious mental illness, all of his adult life, and for 12 years was president of the Kay County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. He was on strong medication for his condition and lived a full life. He had a variety of occupations over the years, ranging from car hop to parking meter collector, to computer programming trainee but the bulk of his work history was in janitorial positions. Upon early retirement, he volunteered for 25 years at Westminster Village (now Via Christi Village) and ten years at Edwin Fair Mental Health Clinic Downtown. He was married first to Jackie Palmer and then Sue Braden, each for eight years. He was blessed with a plethora of friends at all times of his life –even dating back to his elementary school days.

His large family was very understanding and supportive of him when he would struggle with his illness, as well as when he was thriving. His creative hobbies were art, poetry and music. His musical inspiration was Bob Dylan, and he attended his concerts twice. Barry loved coincidences and sometimes he referred to them as God Incidences and was known for having a lot of them happen to him.

Barry was a faithful prayer warrior. He was a counsel and friend to others who suffered from mental illness. He completed a course in identifying mental illness for police enforcement as well as training for Hospice of North Central Oklahoma Volunteers. Barry did everything that he could to educate himself about schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. He was faithful to follow his doctors orders about his medications concerning his health.

After his father died, Barry and his mother were inseparable. They accompanied each other to church and always had Sunday brunch together. He enjoyed keeping in touch with family and friends. He liked keeping up to date with others on Facebook and always made positive comments.

Barry loved celebrating his mother’s Halloween birthday and often dressed up to hand candy out to the trick- or- treaters. He accompanied his elderly dad on fishing trips to Kaw Lake.

Barry was preceded in death by his parents, Ron and Trudy Frick, his baby brother Greg, his sister-in-law Penny Frick, grandparents, Frank and Faye Frick, and Anton and Frances Horinek. He is survived by his brother, Steve Frick of Edmond, OK, sisters and brothers-in-law, Dee Ann and Gordon Brown of Bartlesville, OK, Rhonda and Danny Smith of Belton, TX, Jan and Mark Mazzolini of McKinney, TX, Laurie and Gary Brown of St. Joseph, MO, and Julie and Brent Eberle of Ingram, TX, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Contributions may be made to: National Alliance on Mental Illness/NAMI Oklahoma, PO Box 1306, El Reno, OK, 73036, St. Mary’s School and Church, 415 S. 7th Street, Ponca City, OK, 74601, or The Journey Home, 900 Washington Blvd, Bartlesville, OK, 74006.

Source: Trout Funeral Home