Charles Monroe Freeman, known as “Butch” in his younger years and “Chuck” as an adult, passed away unexpectedly in Amarillo, Texas on Tuesday, September 28, 2021. He was born August 15, 1937 in Liberal, Kansas to Ordrie Schafter “Joe” Freeman and Ella Mae (Maschmeier) Freeman, the third of four children. He grew up on the Light Ranch south of Liberal, Kansas and spent many hours riding horseback and driving tractors as a youth. Chuck’s grade school years were spent at Green Valley Elementary before attending Liberal High School, Liberal, Kansas.
Chuck entered the military in 1956, enlisting in the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Roswell, New Mexico and Thule, Greenland and achieved the rank of Airman Second Class. Following his honorable discharge in 1959, he remained on inactive reserve duty until 1962. His patriotism was always on full display as well as his love and honor for the flag!
He then returned to Liberal, Kansas where he worked for Panhandle Eastern Pipeline, initially on a survey crew. Chuck would go on to work for Panhandle Eastern in various supervisory roles for 34 years, being transferred to various locations before returning to the Liberal, Kansas area.
Chuck met the love of his life, Nancy Ruth Bennett at a dance where he impressed her with his dance skills and keen wit. He and Nancy were married March 2, 1963. Following their marriage, the couple resided in Liberal, Kansas. Chuck’s wit was always a source of laughter for many throughout his lifetime.
Following Chuck’s retirement from Panhandle Eastern, Chuck worked for a Liberal-area chemical company before he and Nancy relocated to Amarillo, Texas. Chuck worked for the City of Amarillo, earning a full retirement there, as well. Never one to be comfortable with idle time, Chuck then drove and delivered cars for Gene Messer and various other Amarillo-area dealerships. Chuck and Nancy were members of the Hillside Christian Church.
Chuck and Nancy would later move to Edmond, Oklahoma. Chuck drove and delivered vehicles for Reynolds Ford of Edmond until he finally decided to “retire”.
Members of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Chuck and Nancy served on the Greeting Committee and Chuck also served on the Parking Committee, which he loved. Chuck loved doing anything that got him out of the house, meeting other people and helping anyone in any capacity.
Chuck was a life-long fan of the Washington Redskins, often calling his cousins-by-marriage Larry & Annette Ille on any occasion when Washington and the Dallas Cowboys would play, as they were huge Cowboys fans. They had a good-natured rivalry going for many years.
Chuck enjoyed playing cards and was always up for any activity that meant he could be with family and friends, whether it was attending a family get-together or one of the many activities his children, grandchild, and multitudes of extended family were involved in. He was a supporter of the Turpin, Oklahoma Schools while his children were in attendance, as well as Oklahoma State University, where attending the Homecoming Parade and pre-game festivities each year was always a highlight to be with family at his cousin Annette Ille’s home in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Chuck loved attending his young cousins’ baseball, softball, and basketball games while he lived in Edmond, Oklahoma, rarely missing one regardless of the heat!
Chuck also loved trips back to Amarillo to visit his daughter Kelly and her husband Steve or their visits to Edmond, as well as trips back to Hugoton, Kansas to visit sisters and other family members in the area. Chuck loved his large, rowdy family with all of his heart, and they loved him right back!
Chuck and Nancy had recently returned to Amarillo, Texas, where they resumed their membership at Hillside Christian Church. Chuck had an ongoing relationship with Christ, having been baptized as an adult in 1975 when he realized the importance and need for Jesus in his life. When family opened Chuck’s Bible, there were some texts he had underlined that really stood out: Romans 10: 9-10 and Romans 10:13 – “…that if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead’, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation” and “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,” as well as Proverbs 12:26 – “A righteous man is cautious in friendship.”
Chuck was beloved by so many people, never met a stranger, and always brought the sunshine wherever he went. Chuck never had a bad word for anyone, never had crude language in conversation and treated everyone he met with kindness!
He will be remembered with great fondness and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. The hole his absence will leave can never be filled, but we rejoice knowing he is reunited in Heaven with loved ones who passed before him.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Nancy, of the home; his son Randall (Rocky) Freeman and his wife Sheila (Lewis) Freeman of Amarillo, Texas; son Van Freeman of Fort Worth, Texas; and daughter Kelly and her husband Steve Hixon of Amarillo, Texas; his granddaughter, Rhandall Freeman of Canyon, Texas; his sister, Roberta (Freeman) Kepley of Hugoton, Kansas; his sister-in-law Marilyn Thompson of Liberal, Kansas; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great nieces and great-great nephews, and a multitude of cousins.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Ella Freeman; his brothers Menno “Chuck” Wells and Nemo Freeman; his sister, Belva (Freeman) Hickey; brothers-in-law Darrell “Pete” Hickey and Marshall Kepley; and niece Linda (Hickey) Moser.
The family will host a viewing for family and friends from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 7, 2021 at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive, Amarillo, Texas. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 8, 2021, at Hillside Christian Church, 6100 S. Soncy Road, Amarillo, Texas, with graveside services scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Liberal Cemetery, Liberal, Kansas with military honors.
Memorials may be made in Chuck’s memory to the following:
Hillside Christian Church Missions
6100 Soncy Road
Amarillo, Texas 79119
-or-
Quail Springs Baptist Church
Senior Adult Ministry
14613 North May Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134
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