Donald Alan Freeman

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Donald Alan Freeman, 58, of Nevada, Mo., passed away at the home of his daughter on Monday, April 29, 2013. Donald was born March 24, 1955, in El Dorado, Kan., the third child of Warren and Annabelle (Davis) Freeman. Donald spent his childhood playing baseball, throwing newspapers and being a boy scout. He was baptized at First Baptist Church in Augusta, Kan., on Nov. 13, 1968. He played in stage band at Augusta High School and graduated in 1973, enlisted in the Air Force shortly after and was honorably discharged in 1979.

On June 12, 1980, he married Linda Sue Phillips and to their union one child was born. Donald and Linda spent the early years of their marriage sharing their love for music. They enjoyed entertaining others and spent many nights traveling from one show to the next with their band. In 1986, he enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Germany. In 1987, his only daughter was born and he dedicated his life to being a loving father and worked hard to support his family. After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1991, he spent many years traveling to various states doing cable and satellite installation. He also worked various factory jobs and ended his working career at Extrusions in Fort Scott, two months prior to his death.

His lifelong passion was music which he was quick to share and teach to anyone. He was a talented musician who tinkered with many instruments, but had a particular passion for the drums and bass guitar. He read and collected numerous types of books and enjoyed writing. He was artistic in many different ways. He loved spending time outside and in his later years expressed an interest in gardening. He also had a love for sweets especially chocolate and ice cream.

Preceding Donald in death were his parents and a sister, Beth Ann Freeman.

Survivors include his wife, Linda, of the home; his daughter, Melinda Jeffery and her husband, Christopher, of El Dorado Springs, Mo.; two sisters, Lynda Anderson and her husband, Larry, of Woodstock, Ga., and Joyce Haas and her husband, Charles (Buzz) of Yates Center, Kan.; four nieces; one nephew; four great-nephews; five great-nieces; one great-great-niece; and many other loving family members.

Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m., today, at Fort Scott National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kan., with Randy Bland of- ficiating. There will be full military honors.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice and left at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be left on the funeral home's Web site at: www.blandhackleman.com