Roll Call Tribute

Published in (Salem OR) StatesmanJournal on April 17, 2012

Jim Freeman(1938 - 2012)
Jimmy "Jim/J.R." Richard Freeman

July 11, 1938 - March 19, 2012

INDEPENDENCE - Jim Freeman died suddenly of heart failure on March 19, 2012 while wintering in Desert Hot Springs, California.

Jim was born on July 11, 1938 in Merrill, Oregon. He was the older of two boys born to the union of Norma Jean Carpenter and Harold Richard Freeman.

Jim graduated from Malin High School in 1956 and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He separated from the military to further his education and in 1962 graduated from Pacific University with a Bachelors Degree in Science. He later obtained his Masters Degree in Education from Texas A&M University. Jim found more than diplomas while attending college. It was during this time that he met Kathy Caravatta. They were soon married and resided in Hillsboro and then Madras before moving to the Monmouth/Independence area in 1969 where they raised their two children, Jason and Jami. Children became a major part of Jim's life and he dedicated over 30 years to teaching in the public school system with five years in Madras and 25 years in Salem. As Jim's teaching career began to wind down, he traded his desk for a tractor seat and was regularly spotted around town mowing fields and tilling gardens.

Jim remarried in 1989 to Cathy (Carnes) Freeman and his family immediately doubled in size with the addition of her two children. Cathy was a loving wife and also a terrific dance partner. Together they tore up the dance floors from Oregon to California. They resided just outside Independence where Jim, the son of a farmer, enjoyed extreme gardening. Whether flowers or tomato plants, Jim always thought if 10 were good, 150 were better and nothing made him happier than sharing his bounty of produce with everyone he met.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, Harold and brother, Jack. He leaves behind his mother, Norma Freeman, Cathy Freeman, his wife of 22 years, his son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Ann Freeman, his daughter and son-in-law, Jami and Brian Crist, his son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Leslie Winnett and daughter and son-in-law, Tiffany and Greg Rice. His grandchildren consist of Heather and her husband Joel, Jordan, Hannah, Jack, Bodie, Colby, Ross, Mason and Easton. He also has one great grandson, Noah.

Jim touched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity, and maintained his trademark sense of humour all the way to the end. He lived life to the fullest and will be deeply missed. Friends and family are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at Green Villa Barn, 3110 Independence Highway, Independence, OR 97351. The celebration will be held on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the organization of your choice, preferably related to the education or care of children.