Earl Melvin Freeman

Earl Melvin Freeman, went to be with his Lord and Saviour on Monday, April 28, 2014 at his home in Cleveland, Oklahoma at the age of 93 years, 2 months and 24 days. Earl was born in the Grandview Community near Zack in Searcy County, Arkansas on February 4, 1921 to Jessie Aubry and Bessie Jane (Williams) Freeman. He began his education in Zack and then attended Grandview School. As well as tilling the Arkansas soil, he hunted and walked the hills and country roads during his childhood and always thought of them as home. He accepted Christ as a young man and was baptized in the Buffalo River near his home. At age 21 he married, Jackie Denvalee Shipman on July 7, 1942 in Marshall, Arkansas and in September of 1942 was drafted into the Army Air Force and entered WWII. He was stationed in North Dakota for a short time and then Walker Air Force Base in Kansas, where he served as a medic until September of 1945, working in the hospital on base and other base hospitals nearby. After his discharge he returned back to the Grandview/Morning Star area in Arkansas with his wife and three children, Robert, Earlene and Janie, where he began farming, raising strawberries and tomatoes for commercial sale. He later moved to Marshall where he owned and operated a Gas Station and assisted Jackie with her cafÈ. In 1952, after a short stay in California, Earl and family moved to Osage, Oklahoma. He worked for a few months at a gas station in Hominy before he began his career in Oil drilling. He later owned and operated a dump truck, hauling gravel and rock for the Keystone Dam project. Earl retired in 1967 after becoming disabled from a brain aneurism while employed at Wheatleyís in Tulsa as a valve inspector. But Earl never really retired, he continued helping friends, family and Guinn Electric with whatever projects were in progress and hunting what was in season. He was always up for a good coon hunt and enjoyed his many deer hunting trips with his family. Earl and Jackie moved to Cleveland in November 1993 and were within 6 days of their 70 wedding anniversary when Jackie passed away in July of 2012. Earl was known for his sense of humor, ole time stories and his mechanical ability to fix just about anything, especially automobiles. Loved and admired by his friends and family, his favorite activities were with his grandkids, hauling them about when they were young and spending time with them as adults. Earl loved religious, bluegrass and country music and enjoyed singing with his Arkansas cousins and was often requested to sing ìThe Knoxville Girlî. His family is grateful for knowing and having such an amazing character in their lives. Earl is survived by his two daughters, Earlene Guinn and husband David of Cleveland, Janie Wagnon and husband Gene of Bella Vista, Arkansas, daughter in law Ann Freeman of Cleveland, grandchildren Dale Guinn, Steve Guinn, Tracy Stowell, Rob Freeman, Kevin Freeman, Tiffany Lucas and David Wagnon, 15 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandsons and a great great granddaughter expected in May. He is also survived by his sister in law Gayle Smith of Cleveland and brothers in law, Mike, Keith and Lavern Shipman, a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jackie Denvalee, son Robert Lee, grandson Jimmy Lucas; his siblings, brothers Buel, Bobby, J. D, sisters Lucille Brandscum and Ruby Shipman.