Michael Lee Fraley Sr.

Michael Lee Fraley, Sr., the second of ten children in the family, was born on July 6, 1949 in Salinas, California. He spent his formative years in multiple areas throughout the southwest. He loved playing baseball as a child and was a second baseman/shortstop on a Little League team one summer that won the season championship. Years later, he would put that same dedication into earning his high school diploma while living on his own.

At age 17, he met the love of this life at a high school dance, held at Greenway Middle School. Mike hitched a ride home from the dance with Jacque and her date, a friend of Mike’s. His sweet, quiet nature appealed to Jacque. The two dated for a year before Mike proposed to and married Jacquelene Jesseca Kugler.

They welcomed their first son, Mickael Lee Fraley, Jr., on October 21, 1968 and a second son, Matthew Christopher Fraley, on August 2, 1971. The Fraleys purchased their first home in 1969 in Sunnyslope for $6500 and, three years later, moved to Maryvale, one of the hottest real estate markets at the time. They built a house in Cave Creek in 1976, the year of the great shortages. They took showers without roof covering, used an outhouse, and lived in two campers with two sons, two cats, one crab, one hamster and a dog for six months while building the house in the desert.

Mike formally entered the workforce his senior year of high school as a lot boy at Mel Clayton Ford. Then he worked at Coleman flooring. Before Matthew was born, Mike joined his father-in-law at Jack Kugler Painting. Eventually, he opened his own business, MLF Painiting. After the unfortunate passing of his youngest son, he shut down his business and worked as a warrantee tech for Ryland Homes. He was named Warrantee Tech of the Year during his first year of employment at Ryland. Following the recession, he worked for two companies simultaneously, making shutters for Lone Mountain Mill Work and doing general construction for Eldred Construction. He stayed at both jobs until his retirement.

Mike made a promise to his father-in-law, Jack Kugler, in 1989 that he would take care of his mother-in-law, Betty Mae "GG" Kugler, after Jack’s passing. Years later, when “GG” became elderly but refused to move in with Mike and Jacque, the couple moved into her home and took care of her for four years.

Mike had several vices, but he balanced those with kindness and care for his family and friends. He smoked, drank, gambled and cussed, but he also spoiled his dogs and gave of himself anytime he was needed. He quit smoking when his third namesake was born and chewed more nicorette gum than any other customer until the day he died.

Michael is predeceased by his second son, Matthew Fraley, and a brother, John David Fraley. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jacque Fraley, son Michael Lee Fraley, married to Tatum Fraley, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. His legacy family includes grandson Joshua Kuehn, his partner in life Carla Torres, and their two sons: Grayson Matthew Kuehn and Graham Michael Kuehn; Granddaughter Brittney Bohannan, her husband Ryan, and their three children: Rhett Lee Bohannan, Kenley Mae Bohannan, and Adley Ann Bohannan; Grandson Michael Fraley, III, his wife Hannah Fraley, and their daughter, Presley Pine Fraley (plus an unborn child); and grandchildren Tanner Fraley, Matthew Fraley, II, and McKenzie Fraley. Mike is also survived by eight of his siblings: Patti Van Riper, Paula McCormick, Stephen Fraley, Paul Fraley, SuAnna Schnyder, Deanna Thompson, James Fraley and Lois Fraley.

Michael Lee Fraley, Sr., 72, died peacefully in his home in Pine, Arizona, on February 27, 2022, with his wife, son and daughter-in-law by his side.

His Celebration of Life will be at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary, 200 W. Beardsley Road, Phoenix, Arizona, 85027 on Thursday, March 17, 2022. Visitation begins at 11:00, with a Celebration of Life at 12:30, followed by a short graveside service at 2:00 prior to the interment.