Patsy Freeman

Patsy Joyce Freeman “Gan Gan” of Waco passed into the arms of Jesus October 25th, 2017 at Wesley Woods nursing home. A memorial service remembering and honoring her life will be held at Grace Gardens Funeral Home and Crematorium in Woodway Saturday, October 28th, 2017 beginning at 4:00 pm. Her son, Brent Freeman will officiate the service.

Patsy was born June 25th, 1938 to her father, Floyd Lyons and mother Operea Lyons.

She grew up in Riesel, TX where she attended school for 12 years. She was active in the school making many lifetime friends. She was a majorette and played guard on the basketball team. She participated on the annual staff, was a cheerleader, and Miss RHS 1957.

In 1959 she married Butch Freeman from Mart, TX. They had three sons Barry, Brent, and Brian. Patsy was active in the First Baptist Church in Mart as she began fulfilling her most important calling in life as a mother and house wife. Raising 3 boys near in age was most likely very challenging. As the boys grew and made friends, they all became her little ones as well. Many of them dubbed her “Momma Patsy”. Patsy and Butch divorced after many years of marriage but she continued to be very active in all the boys lives by attending and supporting them in their activities such as band, football, basketball, and baseball games. Weekends were especially precious to her when she could focus on the many friends and fun they would have spending the night and filling their time with fun activities. “Momma Patsy” was in lots of their lives.

She spent hours and hours riding around and developing and maintaining many friends and relationships with all her community from Riesel, Mart, Marlin, Axtell, West, Elm Mott, and Waco. She had a broad circle of friends and territory she would cover. She loved her friends and spent most of her time involved not only in her friends lives but the lives of their children as well. These things were her passion. Her other greatest passion was her grandchildren. Austin, Walker, Braeden, Trever, and Savannah. She loved all her grandkids and loved to help with them. She enjoyed shopping and buying birthday and Christmas gifts for them. She also enjoyed having their pictures and had them sitting all around her house.

She maintained several jobs throughout the years, but her house cleaning business enabled her to not only continue in her many relationships but then also became caregiver to many as well. Taking care of some elderly and going to Dr. appointments with them.

Her hobbies were her life. Her friendships being the most important. She loved shopping and buying knick knacks especially if it pertained to Christmas or Elvis. Her house was filled with things she loved, including clothes and shoes. She liked to look nice. Patsy also liked attending small country churches with her friends throughout her community. She loved to take trips and visited friends in Chicago, Illinois, Montana, Florida, Idaho, Tennessee, New York, and many other places.

Patsy is preceded in death by both parents, Floyd Lyons and Operea Fenske and her precious grandmother Mellonie “Mama” Lyons. Several beloved cousins from Austin, Arvin and Royce Harrell. Patsy is also preceded in death by her wonderfully remembered and special grandson Braeden Freeman.

Patsy is survived by her sister Nancy Thomas and brother Tilmon Fenske. Her son Barry Freeman and daughter Savannah Freeman and wife Norma, and her son, daughters and grandchildren. Her son Brent Freeman and wife Lisa, grandsons Austin Freeman and wife Mandi, Walker Freeman, Trever Freeman and wife Caitlin. Her son Brian Freeman and spouse Robert Jaramillo. Her cousin Sonya Hergotz and husband Bill and many other cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to The Braeden Freeman Memorial Scholarship Fund at any Wells Fargo location.

The family would also like to thank all the staff, administration, nurses and aides that have provided for her care for the last 3 years at Wesley Woods. We also thank Southern Care Hospice Services for their help in her last few days.

We also thank the staff of Grace Gardens for their assistance in this time of remembering and honoring our mother.

Thank you to the many friends and family that have been so loving, caring, and supportive.

Thanks also to those of Waco Family Baptist Church who are helping and most of all we thank our most gracious God.

Memorial Service