J. T. Freeman

J. T. FREEMAN J. T. Freeman left this life on October 11, 2015, at his home north of Stratford surrounded by his loving family. He was born exactly two miles north and one and one-half mile west of Stratford, Oklahoma, to John William and Eula Mae Horn Freeman on February 16, 1922. He married Dorothy Courtney on August 10, 1940, in Stratford, OK. They lived all their life in the Stratford area except for a year they lived in New Mexico. J. T. entered the U.S. Army on January 26, 1943 and served until December 14, 1945. He was shipped to Ft. Knox, KY, for basic training and on the Ft. Campbell, KY for advanced training for the M-4 Sherman Tank. He left Newport News, Virginia for Oran, North Africa and traveled across North Africa through Libya and Tunisia. They left Bizerte, Tunisia, for Naples, Italy in preparation for Operation Shingle. In the early morning hours of January 22, 1944, he made an amphibious landing on the beach at Anzio via amphibious landing craft on the beach at Anzio, Italy as a foot soldier. He was engaged in constant combat and was wounded on March 30, 1944. After an extensive hospital stay in Naples, he was sent home on a British Hospital Ship on the same day of the Normandy Invasion. He was sent to Brook General Hospital in San Antonio, TX, for re-cooperation. After spending several months in the hospital, he returned to active duty as a Guard for German POW’S in Pryor, OK and later Paris, TX. He was honorably discharged from the Army at Fort Chaffee, AK. After their daughter, Judy, was born in 1946 , J. T. and Dorothy moved to their home near Stratford in January of 1947. J. T. worked at Tinker Field in Oklahoma City, Gene Autry Air Field at Ardmore, OK, and due to injuries received in battle, retired from the Federal Aviation Agency in Oklahoma City as a licensed aircraft mechanic in 1963. Coming from a family that grew fruit as part of their ranching operation, he and Dorothy decided they would put out 2500 apple trees as part of their retirement. Freeman’s Apple Valley Ranch was operated until the early 80’s. Dorothy and J. T. and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 10, 1990. J. T. was a Master Mason, a 33rd degree Mason, member of the McAlister Scottish Rite Consistory, Veteran’s of Foreign Wars (Ardmore), American Legion, Stratford (one of the founding members and 2nd Commander of Post in Stratford), Combat Infantryman’s Association, charter member of the H11 OK CIDB, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, and member of the First Baptist Church, Stratford. He was a member of the Shrine Clown unit at Ada, and served as a driver, taking many children to the Shrine Hospitals in Galveston, TX and Shreveport, LA. He served for two years on an advisory board for the Oklahoma City VA Hospital. Above all his awards and achievements, he considered his greatest achievement and what he was most proud of was his family. His life was devoted to serving others, many times at his own expense. J.T. remained on the family farm until his death on Sunday, October 11, 2015. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; parents John & Mae Freeman; and brothers, Marvin and Leon, and Rudy Freeman. He is survived by his daughter, Judy McPherson and grandchildren Robert J. Archer and wife, Carrie; Ray Archer and wife Wendi, and Christy Gregory and husband Dale. He is also survived by Great grandchildren Mercedes, Quinton, Maggie, and Daniel Gregory and Gunnar, Lilly and Colton Archer. Services will be held Wednesday October 14, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Stratford First Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Lewis Perry. Burial will be in McGee cemetery.. Viewing Tuesday evening from 5-7 pm at DeArman/Pickard Funeral Home Stratford, Oklahoma.

Tributes

J. T. Freeman

February 16, 1922 - October 11, 2015