It is with profound sadness that the family announces the passing of Dr. June Claire Mitchell Oehler Frye on Friday, December 13, 2024, surrounded by her family and close friends.
June leaves to mourn her children Dr. Jeff (Dr. Mary) Oehler, Dr. John (Carol) Oehler, Chris Oehler, and Michael (Vivian) Frye, brother John Mitchell, grandchildren Nicholas, Grant, Nathan, Robert, Ian, and Ashley Oehler, and Whitney Burger, four great-grandchildren Brynlee, Rowenna, and Evelyn Oehler, and Hailee Burger, numerous nieces and nephews, her long-time friend from medical school Dr. Marlene Goodfriend, and former colleagues and close friends Dr. Naeem Jhetam (Cathy) and Dr. Rizwana Shaheen whom she had the opportunity to speak to in her final days.
June was born in Shelbyville, Indiana on November 21, 1938, the eldest sister to Steve, Jeff, and John Mitchell. She graduated from high school in 1956, and attended Franklin College for two years before studying abroad in Germany for two years. Upon returning to the US, she attended and graduated from the Indiana University with a BA in Fine Arts. She became a certified school teacher and for two years taught language arts at the junior high level. Given her passion for learning, June entered the field of medicine and graduated from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1969. While in medical school June met the love of her life Dr. Charles (Russ) Frye. They married in 1969 and worked in Chicago, Illinois before moving to Prince George in 1982. They both loved the north and the four seasons. They shared a passion for learning and teaching, the fine arts and the theatre community, reading, fishing, hiking, skiing, white-water kayaking, canoeing, golfing, travelling, cooking, and hosting dinner parties with friends and colleagues. June and Russ were very involved in amateur theater in Prince George in the 1980’s and performed in a play that Russ wrote in 1989. June and Russ worked tirelessly to recruit psychiatrists and to develop psychiatric services in Prince George. In 2017 June was the first woman to be inducted into the Northern Medical Society Hall of Fame. June and Russ were married for 47 years before his passing in 2016.
The family would like to thank the following whose love and support meant so much to June in her final few months: Dr. Michael O’Malley and June’s “dearest” friend Nancy O’Malley , Dr. John Smith and Finola Gallagher-Smith, Dr. Brenda Griffiths, Kara Hunter, Dr. Cathy Textor, Dr. Siobhan Key, Dr. Melanie MacNicol, Dr. John Ryan, Dr. Alve McNestry, Sandra Ramsay, Maura and Mary-Elizabeth Maura O’Malley, Julie and Begonia from Comfort Keepers, Cindy from the Chateau who made June’s short stay there so comfortable, the many home support workers, and most importantly, the exceptional care from the nursing staff and care aides at the Rotary Hospice House who treated June with love, compassion and dignity. A very special thanks to her “guardian angel” Colleen Fisher who has been by her side constantly for her last few months.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the UHNBC Department of Psychiatry through the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation. A celebration of life to honor and celebrate June, her life, and career will be held in the spring of 2025. In the meantime, as June would say, “stay safe!”.