Sydney Presley

Sydney Presley, our wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and sister, passed away on March 19, 2025, after a sudden, brief illness in St. George, Utah.

Sydney was born on July 26, 1952, in Cedar City, Utah, to Francis Loyd Frye and Edna Rae (Gardner) Frye. On July 1, 1953, when Sydney was nearly one year old, her father moved the family to Brawley, California, where he had purchased a funeral home. Sydney grew up in Brawley with her sisters and attended Brawley Union High School. She was a song leader and graduated in 1970. Following high school, she attended Dixie College in St. George, and then California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She graduated from Cal Poly in 1976 with a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts. Sydney returned to Brawley after college and opened a local flower shop, The Bloomin Room. She met Michael Presley while he was serving in the U.S. Navy and working part-time for her father at Frye Chapel in Brawley. They married on February 4, 1978, in Brawley, and were sealed in October 1978 in the St. George Temple. Mike and Sydney then moved to Orange, California, where Mike attended mortuary school. During that time, their first child, Amanda, was born. They then moved back to Brawley and expanded their family with children Katie, Randy and Julian. During that time, Sydney thrived in her favorite profession - motherhood. She was creative and entrepreneurial, conducting an independent business selling sandals, fruit and food storage items to her community. In 1985, Sydney and Mike seized the opportunity to manage Frye Chapel in Blythe, and moved their family to the other side of the desert. In 1990, a fifth child, Colby, was born. Sydney and Mike eventually became the owners of Frye Chapel and Mortuary in Blythe and spent more than 40 years serving the community together. Sydney was active in all aspects of her children's lives; helping organize the PTA at Ruth Brown Elementary School, taking kids to swim meets for the Desert Dolphins, sitting in her white Suburban waiting during baseball and softball practices, dance lessons, piano lessons, and 4-H meetings. Sydney supported Mike in his activity with the Masonic Lodge and community clubs. As her children became adults, she continued to support their goals and dreams, and loved the joy of being a grandma. She brought a touch of class to everything she did. Sydney loved others and was a source of comfort to many in her capacity as a funeral director and as a kind, compassionate person. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held a strong faith in the plan of salvation. She served in several callings in the Blythe Ward, including Young Women's, Primary, Relief Society and seminary. Her favorite activities centered around her family and usually included cooking in her beautiful kitchen.

She is survived by her husband, Mike; her five children, Amanda Hartmann (Joe), Katie Armenta (Danny), Randy (Angelica), Julian (Cristyn) and Colby; 11 grandchildren; her mother Edna Rae Frye, sisters Shannon Smith (Ken) and Sheila Kruger, and many extended family.

A visitation will be held in Blythe on Friday, March 28, 2025, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. (PDT) at the Frye Chapel. 633 North 7th Street, Blythe, California 92225. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT) at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Blythe Ward Chapel. 700 North Broadway, Blythe, California 92225. A second visitation will be held in St. George on Friday, April 4th, 2025, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. (MDT) at Spilsbury Mortuary. 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah 84770. A graveside and burial will be held on Saturday, April 5th, at 10:00 a.m. (MDT) at the Pine Valley Cemetery, Pine Valley, Utah.

Arrangements were made under the joint direction of Frye Chapel & Mortuary of Blythe in Blythe, California, and Spilsbury Mortuary in St. George, Utah. Inquiries and floral deliveries for the visitation and funeral service in Blyth can be directed to Frye Chapel & Mortuary of Blythe. 760-922-4171. 633 North 7th Street, Blythe, California 92225. www.FryeChapel.com. For questions concerning the visitation and graveside service in St. George, please contact Spilsbury Mortuary. 435-673-2454. 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. www.SpilsburyMortuary.com