S. (Steve) Fehr, a longtime baking industry executive, died in a plane crash in southern Oklahoma July 26. His wife, Vicki W. Fehr, was gravely injured in the crash and died July 30 at The Medical Center of Plano in Plano, Texas. The crash occurred after Mr. Fehr reported losing engine power, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fehr were 64 years old.
The Fehrs were flying from Springfield, Mo., to Fort Worth, Texas. The plane crash occurred just outside of Colbert, Okla., about 100 miles northeast of Fort Worth. The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza was found in a wooded area near a country road.
Early in his career, Mr. Fehr worked for Fehrmead Foods, and in 1992 he established Fehr Foods, Inc., in Abilene, Texas, and led the company until the business was sold to Grupo Nacional de Chocolates S.A. (G.N.C.H.), Medellin, Colombia, in 2011. Fehr is a cookie manufacturer with production facilities in Texas and Oklahoma. It sells its products principally under the Lil’ Dutch Maid, Sun Valley and Tru-Blu brands. Until recently Mr. Fehr was on the board of directors of the business, which has been renamed AbiMar Foods.
Also during his career, Mr. Fehr served on the board of the Biscuit and Cracker Manufacturers’ Association. He was also an active member of the Privy Council.
Following the sale of Fehr Foods, Mr. Fehr was involved with mining and exploration interests in southern Utah, an enterprise with which the Fehr family has been involved for longer than 60 years.
A native of Little Rock, Ark., Mr. Fehr was raised in Dallas and graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1974 with a degree in business.
Mr. Fehr was an Eagle Scout and an accomplished private pilot. He served as a director on the Abilene Airport Development Board. Additionally, he served on numerous other for-profit and non-profit boards, including the Abilene Industrial Foundation. Both he and his wife were active members of First Central Presbyterian in Abilene.
Mr. Fehr was preceded in death by his father, I.N. “Newt” Fehr, a baking executive for many years with Campbell Taggart and later with Fehr. Survivors include his mother Doris Dickey Fehr of Dallas, brother Roger Fehr of Austin, Texas, son Bart Fehr of Houston, son Brian Fehr of Dallas, granddaughters Vail Linnea Fehr and London Jean Fehr of Minneapolis, and granddaughter Charlotte Lucile Fehr of Houston. At the time of his death he was anticipating the birth of twin grandchildren, Alice Victoria and Charles Boone. Mr. Fehr and his wife had been married for 42 years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed in Mr. Fehr’s name to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486,Houston, Texas, 77210-4486.
