Freda Marie Stephenson

Freda Marie Stephenson, daughter of the late Raymond and Edna (Plaster) Branstetter, was born on July 15, 1927 in Wright County, Missouri, and departed this life on August 14, 2007 in the St. John’s Regional Health Center in Springfield, Missouri, following a short illness. She was 80 years and 29 days of age.
Freda grew up and attended school in Wright County. She was united in marriage to Walter Stephenson in 1946 in Wright County. Three children were born to this union. They raised their children in the Norwood, Mtn. Grove, and Mansfield areas. Mr. Stephenson passed away on July 10, 1980.
Freda was a good Christian woman. At the time of her passing, she was attending the Goodwin Calvary Peace Baptist Church in Lebanon, Missouri. She was baptized at a young age.
She liked to keep busy and collected several things including rocks from different places, buttons, ink pens and pencils, and stamps. She had made several albums of different events and occasions in the news including; “911,” space shuttle take-offs, presidential elections and debates and many more. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, showing them how to crochet.
Freda was a loving and caring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She was always willing to help them in any way she could. She was so full of life and lived it to the fullest. She loved going to “work” with Duane. She didn’t actually work but kept Duane company. All the contractors on the different jobs loved her. They stated often that they hope when they got to be her age, they would still have the vitality that she displayed.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother: Olean Branstetter; two sisters: Annetta Coffee and Louella Branstetter; and by a daughter-in-law: Murna Stephenson.
She is survived by two sons: Jack Stephenson of Mtn. Grove, Missouri, and Duane Stephenson and his wife, Marla, of Lebanon, Missouri; one daughter: Catherine “Cathy” Riley and her husband, Tony, of Linn Creek, Missouri; two brothers: Nolan Branstetter of Sierra Vista, Arizona and Sammie Branstetter of Wichita, Kansas; one sister: Ruby Tyre of the State of California; nine grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends who will sadly miss her. Freda was loved by so many. In the end she was richer that most.


Graveside Services:
Friday - August 17, 2007 10:00 AM Oak Grove Cemetery - North of Norwood, Missouri
Visitation:
Thursday - August 16, 2007 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home
Burial:
Oak Grove Cemetery
In Lieu of Flowers:
Contributions to: The Family for funeral expenses.