Keith "Basil" Freeman

Keith “Basil” Freeman, son of the late Earl and Charlotte (Gould) Freeman, was born July 22, 1970, in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and departed this life December 19, 2024, in Springfield, Missouri, at 54 years of age after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

 Basil grew up in a military family, and lived in many different places growing up. He graduated high school in Key West, Florida, in 1988. He then joined the United States Army and served his country for four and a half years in the Airborne Infantry. While in the Army, Basil met the love of his life, Amy Lynn Fordyce, and they were united in marriage on June 26, 1991. Three children were born to this union: Jenna Noelle, Jessa Lynelle, and Jared Basil.

 Basil earned his Associate’s Degree in Computer Networking from OTC in Springfield, Missouri, and worked a 30 year career in Healthcare Information Technology as a system administrator. 

 Basil loved the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, and spending time in his boat on the lake. He also loved bluegrass music and enjoyed playing the banjo. Basil attended church at Revival Road Church in Marshfield, Missouri. He had a great sense of humor, and he was always the life of the party. 

 Basil and Amy were an inseparable pair, and they have tackled many of life’s challenges hand in hand. Basil was truly a loving and dedicated husband and father. 

 He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Charlotte Freeman, his brother-in-law, Andrew Fordyce, his maternal grandparents, Early and Irene Gould, and his paternal grandparents, Hubert and Lula Freeman.

 He is survived by his loving wife, Amy Freeman, two daughters, Jenna Freeman and Jessa Freeman, one son, Jared Freeman, two brothers, Earl “Lindon” Freeman, and David Freeman and his wife, Brooke, three sisters, Margaret Bowe, Sherry Freeman, and Amber Freeman, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Darryl and Darla Fordyce, his sister-in-law, Jana Marr and her husband, Chris, and many nephews and nieces. His passing will forever leave a void in the hearts of his family and friends.