Donald “Butch” Herman Freeman 1947-2010

A few nights ago, my husband was on his genealogy kick and decided to do a search for my father. For years, we were never able to turn anything up on Google. This night was different.

He found an obituary for my dad.

Donald Freeman
A memorial service for Donald Herman “Butch” Freeman, 62, will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 20, 2010, at the Anderson Clayton Funeral Home in Kemp.
Freeman was born July 1, 1947, in Center and died March 5, 2010, in Tyler. He fought a short but courageous battle with brain cancer.
Freeman was a faithful husband, loving father and a much-loved brother.
He will be greatly missed by his and his wife’s closest fishing buddies Ann and Joe Miles and a host of other friends and loved ones.
He served from 1968-72 in the United States Marine Corps.
He retired from Presbyterian Hospital of Kaufman March 2, 2007.
He and his wife Sarah, purchased the bait shop at Purtis Creek State Park but were forced to close when he became ill.
He loved his four-legged buddies “He-Boy” and “Hooter.” They were always by his side.
Survivors include his wife Sarah Freeman, Alba; daughters Jennifer Loggins*, Whittier, Calif.; Donna Lynn Freeman, Gun Barrel City; and Janna Freeman, Crandall; sons James Peavler, Alba; Jack Barr, Alba; and Charles Barr, Gun Barrel City; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren with another expected in April; sisters Jimmie Hagle and husband Jim, Tundra; Maxine DeRossett, Canton; and Tommie Mooneyhan and husband Mike, Tundra.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701.

I didn’t know my father well. My mother and father split up when I was a small child.

There are so many things I don’t know about my dad. How did he get the nickname Butch for instance?

I knew he liked fishing, but what else did he like to do? I don’t know anyone on that side of the family. I know I have step brothers. I have half sisters that I may have met when I was a child, but I know nothing about. I suppose I have aunts and uncles and cousins as well, but I couldn’t tell you how many or anything about them. I have a huge hole in my family history that I’d really like to fill in.

He had 3 grandchildren he never had a chance to meet. I wonder if any of them were counted in the obit where it said he had 14 grandchildren. They knew about my oldest, and I’m pretty sure about my son. I’m fairly certain no one knew about my youngest. So maybe he has 15 grandchildren, or 17 depending on whether or not my kids were counted. That’s a lot of cousins my kids don’t know anything about.

I thought about my dad often. I tried sending letters and for a while, I would hear back. His wife Sarah would do the writing. That was ok with me. I was just happy to hear from them. After a while, my letters went unanswered. I didn’t have a phone number for them, so I did the best I could. I don’t know why I just stopped hearing from them. Any time someone wanted to contact me, they’d write or call my grandma’s house. When he passed, no one contacted me. I don’t know if it was because they didn’t know how, or they didn’t think to do so. I really hope it was the former.

The last time I spent time with my dad was in 1994. He came for my (first) wedding. I was really nervous about it because I hadn’t seen him in a very very long time. It turns out my anxiety was unwarranted. It was more comfortable than I could have imagined. We got along great. I just wish I had taken more time talking with him about HIM.

I didn’t know my dad. But now I’ll never have the chance to get to know him better.

I’m really hoping someone in my Texas family sees this and contacts me. We may not know one another, but I’d like to get to know y’all.

Daddy, you’ll be missed. Even though we had lost touch for the last 8 years, I thought of you often. I wish my kids could have met their granddaddy. I wish you could have met the man I’m spending the rest of my life with. Jason’s a good man and you’d approve. I know he would have liked to have met you.

I love you dad. May you rest in peace.

____

*I’m not sure why they named me Jennifer Loggins. I’ve never been a Loggins in my life. I understand they had no way of knowing I’m Tucker now, but why not just call me Freeman?

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