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Photo of Shirley A. (Barrett) Freeman

Shirley A. (Barrett) Freeman

8/1/1935 - 4/17/2020


Obituary


Shirley Ann Freeman, 84, of Clarion passed away Friday, April 17, 2020 at the Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center.

A memorial Mass of Christian Burial for Shirley will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2020 at 10:30 AM at St. John’s Catholic Church, 608 2nd Ave NE in Clarion.  Interment will follow at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation for Shirley will be held on Friday, July 31, 2020 from 5:00 – 6:30 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, with a Rosary beginning at 4:30 PM and a Scriptural Wake Service beginning at 6:30 PM. Those in attendance will be asked to follow social distancing guidelines and encouraged to wear a face covering.   Visitation continues Saturday, August 1 at 9:30 AM at St. John's Catholic Church.

Shirley Ann (Barrett) Freeman was born on August 1, 1935 to Francis and Ethel Barrett in Pocahontas County. She was raised on a farm in Grant Township, attending rural school until 6th grade in 1946. She graduated from Pocahontas High School in 1953 earning an honor gold trophy for never missing a day of school or being tardy in 13 years.

Shirley married Bill Freeman in Rockford, Illinois in 1953. From this marriage were born four children, Debbie, Roxy, Jonie and Joe. They lived in Pocahontas until 1959 and then moved to Clarion.

Shirley became employed by the Clarion Care Center on August 1, 1979. She did physical therapy for eight years and worked at the Care Center for thirty years. She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church and a member of Altar Society.

Shirley was very crafty and loved to decorate and create. She was a kind and generous person who helped many people throughout her lifetime. She considered her faith to be her greatest gift and she treasured her family and friends.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Debbie Freeman, daughter Roxy (Steve) Gadzicki, son Joe Freeman; granddaughter Jana (Brian) Gosdin, grandson Jason (Michelle) Schulz, great-grandsons, Jax and Jake Gosdin, and Mason Schulz; her brother Paul (Maxine) Barrett and numerous nieces and nephews.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter Jonie in 1998.