Ardena Freeman

Ardena Anna (Ratzlaff) Freeman, 80, of Piney Creek passed away Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at McAlester Regional Hospital. She was born April 3, 1936, in Medora, Kan., to Edward and Sarah (Andres) Ratzlaff .
The family moved to Inman, Kan., where Ardena grew up and received her education and graduated from the eighth grade. She went to the Mennonite Church where she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior on May 21, 1967, and was baptized.
She met Gene Autry Freeman in McPherson, Kan., while she was babysitting for his sister. They were married July 31, 1962. They moved to Barryton, Kan., where Gene was in the service. Their oldest son, Gene Edward, was born in 1963. From there, they moved to Batesville, Ark., where their middle son, Larry LaVerne was born in 1964.
Next they moved to Okmulgee where their youngest son, Donald Dean, was born in 1966.
Later on they moved to Sapulpa, and she was a Home Room Mother at Jefferson School for her boys. She worked in the church nursery at the First United Methodist in Tulsa and also at the Nazarene Church Nursery in Sapulpa.
She also did a lot of babysitting in private homes. Ardena was well liked in whatever she did. She enjoyed singing gospel music at Porum Landing and working in the kitchen on Saturday nights. She was a member of the Freedom Baptist Church at Porum Landing. She loved her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Ardena is survived by her three sons, Gene Edward Freeman of Piney Creek, Larry LaVerne Freeman of Helena and Donald Dean Freeman and wife Lorrie Ann of Bryan, Texas; her three grandchildren, Ashley Nicole Maddox, Bethanie Anne Freeman and Lorrin Dawn Mikeska; her six great-grandchildren, David Freeman, Valerie (Star) Jean Andrews, Dorian Freeman, Olivia Freeman, Reid Mikeska, Khaleesi Maddox, and two on the way; and a host of relatives and friends.
Ardena is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Sarah Ratzlaff; her husband, Gene Autry Freeman; her brother, LaVerne Ratzlaff; her sister, Dolores Hites; her half- brother, Alvin Frease.
Services were held Jan. 10 at R.E. Shearwood Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Justin Fitzer officiating, and the eulogy by Charles Woodridge.
Burial followed at to Fort Gibson National Cemetery, under the direction of King & Shearwood Funeral Home of Stigler.
Pallbearers were Gabriel Ortega, Sean Rains, Steven Hallemeier, Brent Andrews and Rob Meeler.