Dr. Stanley Alan Frye, most commonly and lovingly referred to as "Pastor Stan” made his heavenly journey from the Carolina Caring Catawba Valley Hospice House surrounded by his loving wife of 60 years (September 25, 1965) children and grandchildren on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, after a brief period of declining health.

Born on October 28, 1947, he was the son of the late Earl Lafayette and Salome Irene Frye. He was married to his high-school sweetheart, JoAnne Lail, whom he pursued by taking Senior level English in summer school to graduate early so they could marry. He drove her school bus and would leave snacks and a soda on her seat for the afternoon ride home.

Shortly after marriage, Stanley began his training to be a preacher of the Gospel at Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute. He would go on to earn multiple post-graduate level degrees from Luther Rice Seminary and the Southern Baptist School for Biblical Studies. He pastored 11 different churches, Center Baptist Church (N. Wilkesboro, NC), First Baptist Church (Hampton, TN), Grace Baptist Church (Taylorsville, NC), Forest View Baptist Church (Woodbine, GA), Leesville Road Baptist Church (Evington, VA), East Sligh Avenue Baptist Church (Tampa, FL), Tri-City Baptist Church (Conover, NC), Canton Baptist Temple (Canton, OH), Gateway Baptist Church (Newton, NC), Terrell Baptist Church (Terrell, NC), and Gateway International Baptist Church (Taylorsville, NC).

He founded and led two other highly successful ministries, Family Evangelism Inc., (1978-1988) a revival, harvest days, Bible conference, and marriage seminar ministry in hundreds of churches across the United States and Gateway International Missions Inc. (2000-present) dedicated to reaching prisoners, prison staff, orphans and others with the Gospel of Jesus in Africa, Ukraine, and beyond.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Quez Maloy Frye, and a sister, Libby Irene Frye. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, JoAnne, of Taylorsville; daughter, Rebecca McKinney (Michael) of Taylorsville; son, Joel (Tricia) of Claremont; a special spiritually adopted daughter, Alicia Coetzer (South Africa); brother, Gene (Jane) of Taylorsville; grandchildren, Anna Carrigan, Rachel Beard (Landon), Andrew McKinney (Camila), Matthew McKinney (Katelyn), Abigail “Abby” Frye, Joshua “Josh” Frye; great grandchildren, Jackson Carrigan, Sawyer Beard, Sophie Beard; and a great-grand dog, “Remi”; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, friends,

and thousands of brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.

The family would like to thank the following for their medical treatment and loving care of Stan in recent days: Emerge Ortho (Dr. Ralph Maxey and staff), Catawba Valley Medical Center Emergency Room physicians and nursing staff (Crissy Shook, Anne Moore, Brittany Smith), and Carolina Caring of Catawba Valley (Kirsten Blanton, Shelley Lackey).

The family will receive friends on Friday, September 26, 2025, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Oxford Baptist Church in Conover. A service to celebrate Stan’s life will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 1:00p.m. at Oxford Baptist Church in Conover. Dr. Johnny Hunt, Dr. David Gallamore, and Pastor Joel Frye will officiate. Burial will follow in the Smyrna Baptist Church Cemetery, 6174 Church Road,

Taylorsville, NC. Pallbearers honoring Stan’s life will be Joey Brown, Frank Edwards, Roger Greene, Byron Frye, Scott Frye, and Stacy Lail. Honorary pall bearers will be the Gateway International Missions Inc. Board of Directors.

Memorials may be made to Gateway International Missions, Inc., P.O. Box 667, Taylorsville, NC 28681

Condolences may be sent to the Frye family at www.bennettfuneralservice.com.

The Frye family is in the care of Bennett Funeral Service, 7878 NC Hwy 16, Newton, 828-465-2111