Published: November 07, 2009 06:52 pm      

George Shelton Freas

George Shelton Freas, 88, of McAlester, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, in McAlester.

Funeral services will be today at 2 p.m. at Ashland Baptist Church, Ashland, with the Rev. Jim Gantt officiating. Burial will be at Ashland Cemetery, Ashland, under the direction of Chaney-Harkins Funeral Home of McAlester.

Pallbearers include Coy Harrington, Donnie Shores, Benny Ward, John Doyle, Dan Isom and Johnny Ward.

Honorary pallbearers include Doyle Williams, Jake Mabray, Farrell Cunningham, Bennie Mauldin, James Barnes and Owen Summers.

Born October 12, 1921, to John Henry and Dora (Wilson) Freas, in Vandervort, Ark., he married Gertrude Evans on July 28, 1940, in Lordsburg, N.M. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a chief petty officer on the U.S.S. Tasmania. He also served as the fire marshall at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base. He worked as a truck driver, a barber, a machinist at Rockwell International and a school bus driver for Ashland Public Schools. His passion was raising registered cattle and quarterhorses. He was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include his son, Jack Evans Freas and wife, Sherrie, of Ashland; daughter, Joyce McPhetridge and husband, John, of Ashland; brother, Eugene Jackson Freas and wife, Bonnie, of Milburn; sisters-in-law, Lela Beavers, of Kirtland, N.M., Irene Echols, of Farmington, N.M., Ruth Salano, of Semi Valley, Calif..; grandchildren, Keith L. McPhetridge, Joanie McPhetridge, Bryan Freas and wife, Amanda, Mistie Partin and husband, J.D., Toby Freas and wife, Sheryl, John K. McPhetridge and wife, Nicole, Amanda Brown, Chad Freas, Brittany Freas, Megan Freas, and Krista Helterbrand

And, great grandchildren, Nicholas Freas, Sarisa Nichols, Shelton Nichols, T.J. Freas, Anna Freas, Teresa Freas, Hunter Bell, Tyler Brown, Treavor Brown, Taylor Ingram, and Tanner Ingram; great-great grandchild, Sydney Marie Freas; nephew, Henry Withee and wife, Pat, of Rhome, Texas; special nieces, Gerri, Sandy and Carolyn Ann, and numerous other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Gertrude Freas; parents, John and Dora Freas; son, James “Jim” R. Freas; sisters, Beth Leach and Imogene Willis, grandson, Jeffery Freas, and nephews, Eddie Withee and Ronnie Pettit.