Obituary of Mary Darling Freese

Funeral Services for Mary Darling Freese of Winfield, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 18, 2019 at St. Paul United Church of Christ near Old Monroe, MO.  Rev. Michael Kasevich, church pastor, will officiate with burial in the St. Paul U.C.C. Cemetery.  Serving as pallbearers will be Douglas Gifford, David Gifford, Michael Freese, Matthew Freese, Michael Miles and Thomas Bauer.

           
Mrs. Freese, 97, passed away Sunday afternoon, January 13, 2019 at her home in Winfield.  Born November 29, 1921 in Winfield, she was the daughter of Albert William and Rachel Amy Cannon Beckemeier.  Mary was a 1939 graduate of Winfield High School.  She was united in marriage on September 16, 1939 in Winfield to Ernest William Freese.  This union was blessed with two children: Darryl and Patricia.  In her earlier years, Mary worked as a seamstress for the Angelica Garment Factory.  Mary worked as the secretary for the Winfield R-4 School District for 15 years.  She was a longtime member of St. Paul U.C.C. where she was a Sunday School Teacher, member of the church choir, and member of various church committees.  Mary loved quilling, sewing, and caring for her flowers and garden.

           
She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Rachel Beckemeier; two brothers: Wendell and Denzel Beckemeier; and her beloved husband of nearly 65 years, Ernest Freese, who died October 18, 2004.

           
Survivors include her children: Darryl Freese and his wife, Phyllis, and Patricia Gifford and her husband, Jerrold, all of Winfield; seven grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and eleven great, great-grandchildren.  Mary also leaves one brother, DeWayne Beckemeier and his wife, Norma, of Springfield, MO; other relatives and friends.

           
Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 17, 2019 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Winfield.  Memorials may be made to the St. Paul Memorial Fund (or) the St. Paul UCC Being-A-Neighbor-Fund in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 3838 East Highway 47, P.O. Box 253, Winfield, MO 63389.