Frances Pyles Obituary (2022) – Saint Marys, OH

Frances Lorraine Pyles, 74, of Belle Center, Indian Lake Shores, passed away June 10, 2022. Beloved wife of Leonard L. Pyles Jr., she was born Nov. 10, 1947 in Martin (Floyd County), Kentucky to Blaine and Mae (Nitchie) Salisbury. The Salisbury family moved to St. Marys in 1955, drawn to the area for her father’s employment. Frances’ siblings include three brothers, Tony Salisbury (deceased and wife Darlene also deceased), Kenneth Dale (Nancy) Salisbury and Danny (Valerie) Salisbury, both of St. Marys.
Frances married Gary Wehnes in 1966 and had two children: Christina (Mark) Miley and their children Carter and Nolan of Aurora and Michael (Katherine) Wehnes and their children Raeh, Parker, Kameron, Markus, and Anika of St. Marys. She married Leonard Pyles in 1989 and happily welcomed three stepsons: Robin (Alice) Pyles of Cridersville and their sons Eric and Jonathan, Chris (Brenda) Pyles of St. Marys and their son Nathan, Greg (Jessie) Pyles of Zanesfield and their children Mandy, Michael, Zachary and Andy. Frances also has 12 great-grandchildren and was close with her many aunts (especially her aunt Minnie), uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and special friends whom she felt were like family.
A 1965 graduate of Memorial High School, Frances always gave credit to her business teacher, Onnolee Steva, for her guidance which led to her first job with the FBI in Washington, D.C. Next she worked for the American Insurance Association in Washington, D.C. and then for the law office of C. Calvert Lancaster in Oxon Hill, Maryland. She lived in Maryland until 1973 when she and her husband returned to St. Marys so their children could grow up in the small town environment their parents enjoyed.
Upon returning to Ohio, she was hired by the City of St. Marys as utility clerk, then promoted to admin. secretary/asst. to the director of public service and finally to industrial/community development manager until her retirement in 1999. She felt fortunate to work with the Japanese companies and was active with the community’s friendship with Japan, helping with the first visit of the Working Youth Goodwill Mission (1977) to the Sister City relationship with Hokudan-cho/Awaji City. Making many international friends, one Japanese family that became like family was Kenji and Sachiko Fujimoto and daughter, Akari. Frances referred to Sachiko as her Japanese sister.
Frances served the city for over 25 years as well as serving on numerous committees including Heritage Days/Summerfest, Community Improvement Corp., St. Marys Sister Cities, Memorial Park–Bridge, Canal Boat, Clock Tower, New Year’s Eve Celebrations, VFW Baton and Drum Corps, as a charter member of Business and Professional Women’s Organization, and many others. During her time as development manager, she participated in trade shows and reverse investment missions to Canada, Germany, Belgium, England, France, and Japan and during this time AAP, Setex, Murotech, Nakano, and GSW broke ground in St. Marys.
During her employment with the city, she obtained a real estate license and worked part-time with Owen Hall Realty. She also obtained an associate’s degree in accounting from Wright State University and also served as St. Marys Clerk of Council. After retiring from the city, she worked for Toyo Gosei Co., Ltd., first as a volunteer English teacher in Tonosho-machi, Chiba, Japan and then as the Ohio manager of their company TG Finetech. Being semi-retired, Frances also worked part-time doing Administrative Consulting for Roeder Cartage Co. of Lima from 2002 to the present.
Frances enjoyed her work, but she especially enjoyed her family particularly her grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. At her request, there will be no memorial service. Her remains will be buried in Hunter, Kentucky in the Nitchie-Salisbury Family Cemetery where a graveside service will be held for immediate family at a time when weather forebears a bright sunny day with easy access to the mountain top where the cemetery is located.
Frances’ family knows how important the City of St. Marys and Memorial High School were to her, so her children have created a scholarship in her name for students who have shown a passion for helping others, contributing to their communities, or sharing their talents abroad. Contributions may be made to Frances L. Pyles Spirit of St. Marys Scholarship through the St. Marys Community Foundation by sending a check to SMCF, Frances L. Pyles Scholarship, 206 East Spring St., St. Marys, OH 45885.

Published by The Evening Leader from Jun. 13 to Jun. 14, 2022.