Marion Freeman 1944, US Marine

Grandpa (age 89) with great grandson Todd - When we were at Grandpa's house our big treat was a trip to the barn. We loved the hay loft up top and the sweet smell of fresh hay. There were no stairs to get up there and he taught us to swing ourselves up using the rafters. He was very good at this at age 77. When we got a new console record player at home, he sat on the floor with us and listened to rock and roll music! Grandpa was a principled, soft spoken man of few words. And when he spoke, everybody listened! He was an avid reader and kept up on the news and the world with dozens of magazines. His mind and body were still amazing at age 95. And by the way, he ate bacon and oatmeal every morning of his life. He did not want his bacon crispy. He ate it limp and barely cooked! He had a German shepard / husky looking big dog named Poochum and an old horse named Leader. Leader lived in retirement many years. We were never allowed to ride or even sit on him. Threshing time was always a fun event at his farm. Mother and Aunt Helen cooked lunch for the crew (not a small job). And also our dad helped. The crew was made up of neighbors and friends. Kay and I have wonderful memories of those days when our family was together with Grandpa and Mack, and Helen and Guy. Back then, very small and simple things made us completely happy and we are grateful and blessed to have been raised by such humble and honorable people. I still think about them every day. Kay and I have remained very close and we spend lots of time together. We have been very fortunate. Our husbands are best friends and we have traveled the world together making even more wonderful memories.

Kay & Karen Freeman - When Kay and I were young we first lived in Independence, Kansas, then Cedar Vale, and then Sedan. All were near Grandpa and Mack, and Guy and Helen. They were the center of our social life throughout our youth. When we lived in Independence, Grandpa and Mack came to our house every Saturday night for dinner and Grandpa always wore a suit, tie and hat. We looked forward to these occasions.

Marion Freeman and his daughter Karen

Marion and Elizabeth (Ferrell) Freeman taken by a street photographer in Wichita in September 1942