Freda Iris Hobart

Freda was scooting around the porch in her transport chair on Saturday. Lively, happy, much clarity. Twinkly eyes. But come morning, ( Pentecost Sunday!) she wasn't’ waking up. By 8 am, Charlotte recognized the signs of transition. 
The nurse came quickly. Within the hour she very peacefully breathed her last breath. 
What a beautiful way to go. 
What a beautiful soul she was. 

"Beautiful Freda. I love you, Freda. What can I do for you, Freda? My beautiful blue eyed Freedie." 
These were the words I often heard my dad speak to my mom.
He stole her heart, from among the many young men at Oklahoma State that flirted with her. She was a very popular coed who worked in the local movie theater ticket booth. Dad would borrow a car to cruise back and forth in front of that booth. Maybe that's what caught her eye.
She joined Kappa Alpha Theta at OSU. WWII changed her plans from being a PE major to a wife and soon a mother of 4. She faithfully cooked, sewed and "worshed" all our clothes, saved her pennies, green stamps and coupons and raised her 4 kiddos to "quitcher bellyachin", "make yourself useful", and using an old worn out belt to discipline us. 
She reclaimed two old bicycles from the local dump and refurbished them for the family. "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" was the order of the day. She cooked a cow's tongue once for supper. Emphasize ONCE. Bleahhhh.
She packed up our Ford station wagon with snacks, a feather mattress, and pillows for the rare drive-in movie "dates" we had as kids.
And packing for a family of 6 for those few and far between summer road trip vacations between Chenango Bridge, NY and Stillwater, Oklahoma had to be a herculean feat for anyone.
In her later years, she "made herself useful" everywhere she went. Generously, with kindness. So many friends in Ormond Beach, Florida, Seabrook, Texas, Chenango Bridge, NY, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and then retiring back home to Stillwater near her brothers, Bill and Glenn,and sister, Phyllis and their families.  
 Her final 10 years, from age 88 to 98, were spent in Gilmer, Texas in her own little 400 sq.ft house adjoining her daughter, Phyllis's house, built by her son in law, Terry.
She declined physically and mentally very slowly and gently. She was able to attend Bible Study Fellowship one year. She was welcomed with open arms by  the folks at Longview First Methodist Church, two of the pastors being her former pastors in Seabrook,Texas, Connie Winborn and Bob Parrott.  Freda enjoyed attending the worship services. She prayed for us all. Her Bible is filled with notes in the margins.  
Her smile. She gave it to everyone. Especially the children. The evening before her very peaceful homegoing, she gave me a beautiful smile with her twinkly blue eyes and wiggled her fingers "good-bye" to me. She was happy.
Thank you, Jesus, for my beautiful mom.

November 26, 1929 - June 8, 2025 
Burial will be in Ft. Gibson National cemetery, Oklahoma.

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