Ernest Frye

Ernest William Frye, 79, of Ashland passed away Nov. 9. Born in Yarmouth, Maine, he was the son of the late Ernest and Marion (Jacklin) Frye. Ernie was the husband of Randa (Keith) Frye for 57 years.

A graduate of North Yarmouth Academy, he went on to attend Northeastern University. He had a successful career for Franklin Life Insurance Co., beginning as a salesman and ending at the executive level. He would leave the corporate world to become the founding pastor of Latter Rain Christian Fellowship, later known as Metrowest Worship Center, and now Connect Church in Ashland. He would serve as the senior pastor for over 25 years. He also founded Metrowest Ministries, through which he began MetroWest Christian Academy, Dream Station and MetroWest Caribbean Mission. Later acquired were the Early Learning Center in Grafton, as well as Wee Folk Learning Center, all of which fall under the umbrella of MetroWest Ministries.  Through his years as a pastor and founder, his life has impacted multiple thousands around the world.

Pastor Ernie’s biggest accomplishment, however, was his family. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Randa, along with two children, Deryck Frye and wife Stacy of Hopkinton and Ginelle Payne and husband David of Sutton, seven grandchildren, Devon Frye and wife Natalia, Mallory and Madison Frye, Morgan Martinez and husband Anthony, Ashton Couchman and husband Curt, and Kelsie and Dakota Payne, along with five great-grandsons. He was the ever-present patriarch of his family, continually influencing each and every member with his confidence, his love, his zest for life and his love of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Ernie was witty, charming, uplifting, inspirational, engaging, dynamic, powerful, present, wise, intelligent, a self-learner, musical, a gifted communicator, a deep laugher, humorous, a leader, a passionate husband, father, grandfather, preacher and friend, a servant and above all committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. To know him was to love him, to be with him was to be better, and to be loved by him was a gift. His impact on Earth for the Kingdom’s sake is unparalleled.

“Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your rest.”

A celebration of life service will be held Monday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. at Connect Church, 280 Pleasant Street, Ashland. Visiting hours will be held Sunday, Nov. 20, from 2-5 p.m. in the Matarese Funeral Home, 325 Main Street, Ashland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Connect Caribbean Mission (weconnect.cc/missions).

Obituaries are submissions, typically from funeral homes, that are not subject to the same level of editorial oversight as the rest of the Hopkinton Independent. Obituaries may be edited for grammatical and factual mistakes and clarifications and shortened for space considerations.