Shirley Sue (Fry) Fessler

SUE FESSLER

JERSEYVILLE - Shirley Sue Fessler, 83, died at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Jerseyville Manor Nursing Home.

She was born in Essex, Missouri on May 18, 1942, and was the daughter of the late Kenneth R. and Beatrice (Warren) Fry.

Sue graduated from Jersey Community High School, and for a period time was employed in the cafeteria at Illini Junior High School, and later at Mundy Lumber and Supply until suffering a major stroke in 1987 at the age of 45.

She continued to live her life with sheer determination and grit, never allowing her health issues to diminish her love for her family, her friends and her church. She was blessed with a loving family, and felt fortunate to be surrounded by the love of her husband and daughters, and grateful that she was able to see her grandchildren grow into adults and the joys of being a great grandmother.

She married the love of her life, Emil Lee Fessler on August 8, 1959 at the First United Methodist Church in Jerseyville, and together they have been blessed with nearly 67 years of marriage, and have been a testament to what true love and commitment are really about.

Surviving are her husband, Emil Fessler; two daughters and sons in-law, Kimberly and Ronald Wittman of Jerseyville and Jane and Steven Meuth of Johnston City; four grandchildren, Matthew (Danielle) Wittman and Michael (Dawn) Wittman all of Jerseyville, Shantell (Clint) Lodwick and Jordan (Misty) Meuth) all of Marion; seven great grandchildren, Aiden, Connor, Bennett, Lennox, Everly, Kaeden, and Tanner; a sister and brother in-law, Linda and Robert Dunham of Highland; a sister in-law, Marcella Allen of Carrollton; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by three brothers, Kenneth (Mary Lee) Fry Jr., Marvin (Phyllis) Fry, and Larry "Hammer" Fry; her father in-law and mother in-law, Dewey and Opal Fessler; and two brothers in-law, Dale Fessler and John Allen.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.

Visitation will continue from 10 a.m. Friday until time of funeral services at 11 a.m at the First United Methodist Church in Jerseyville, where she was a faithful member. Rev. Don Meeks will officiate.

She will be laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.

Memorials may be given to either the First United Methodist Church or to Jersey Community Hospital Ambulance Association. 

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