Freeda B. Stewart

Freeda B. Stewart, age 102, of Ellettsville, passed away Saturday morning April 27, 2013 at Bell Trace Health and Living Center. She was born in Lawrence County, Indiana to Remus and Lida Stewart Blackwell December 14, 1910, the third of five children. After graduating from Bedford High School in 1928, Freeda married Clarence Stewart, a public school educator. They met as members of the Guthrie Christian Church, which is located in Southern Monroe County. They built a marriage/partnership of 62 years from their spiritual beginning. Freeda and Clarence moved their family to Ellettsville in 1935 when Clarence joined the faculty of Ellettsville High School. As an active and devout member of the Ellettsvile United Methodist Church, Freeda served as Sunday school teacher, church historian, membership preparatory leader, and officer for the methodist Women's Society of Christian Service. She was a longtime member of the Ellettsville chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and past worthy matron. Freeda was always a willing volunteer and generously contributed her time and energy to the PTA, Richland Bean Blossom Family Store and elementary school reading program. She was an active worker in the Monroe County Fall Festival, including chairman of the quilt show. Freeda's professional life included sales clerk at J.C. Penny's in Bloomington, deputy to the Monroe County Clerk and executive secretary to the Indiana University Alumni Office until her retirement in 1975. Early in their married life, during the Great Depression of the 1930's, Freeda provided additional income by raising and selling bushel baskets of pole beans and nurturing chickens that provided dozens of fresh eggs for the local grocery store. Freeda and Clarence were parents to three sons, Glen, Wallace, and Paul. In 1947 the family expanded to seven when Freeda and Clarence provided a home for their niece and nephew, Barbara Blackwell Deckard and Garreth Blackwell, after both of their parents had passed away. Along with the responsibilities of parenting and the demands of her professional career, Freeda also found time to be a skilled cook, successful flower and vegetable gardener and supportive wife with their cattle business. She was famous for her pecan pie, persimmon pudding, yeast rolls, angel food cake, seasoned green beans, fried chicken and meat loaf. When Freeda became a centenarian her family gave thanks for the accomplishments of her life and for the gift of her longevity. Freeda is survived by her son Wallace Stewart and his wife Frances Sue (Morris) of Bloomington; son Paul Stewart and his wife Barbara Ann (Lasota) of Greensboro, North Carolina; seven grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren; niece Barbara Blackwell Deckard of Brownstown; nephew Garreth Blackwell of Ellettsville, and brother-in-law, Carl Stewart of Bloomington. Freeda was preceded in death by her parents, her son Glen Stewart, in 1987, husband Clarence in 1990, sisters Avis Prince, Eva Grace Hillenberg, and Alea Younger, and a brother Elmer Blackwell. Funeral services for Freeda will be held Tuesday April 30, 2013 at 11:00AM in the Ellettsville First United Methodist Church. She will be laid to rest next to Clarence in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Ellettsville. Visitation will be held Monday April 29, 2013 at Allen Funeral Home, 4155 South Old Highway 37 from 4:00PM until 8:00PM. Freeda's family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the wonderful and caring staff of Bell Trace Health and Living Center for their loving and professional care of their mother. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenfuneralhome.org.

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Freeda B. Stewart

December 14, 1910 - April 27, 2013