Freddie Stearns

Freddie Lee Stearns, 72, of Jackson, passed away Sunday, June 25, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Nov. 3, 1933, in Daisy, Mo., son of Orville and Nellie Hobeck Stearns. He and Rosemary Sides were married June 3, 1950.

Fred drove a truck for more than 20 years and then later worked in sheet metal for local No. 36 for 35 years. He retired in 1991. Fred and Rosemary lived in the Burfordville and Jackson area their entire lives, except for the four years they lived in Yuma, Ariz.

Loving survivors include his wife, Rosemary, of 56 years; six children, Kathryn Stern of Jackson, Margie Koehler and husband, Roger, of Jackson, Carol Mayfield of Burfordville, Sue Lewis and husband, Nathan, of Festus, Mo., Donald "Butch" Stearns and wife, Terry, of Burfordville, and Martha Crader and husband, Randy, of Sedgewickville, Mo.; 18 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren; two brothers and six sisters, Bob Stearns and wife, Georgia, of Jackson, Richard Stearns and wife, Brenda, of Fredericktown, Mo., Carma "Peg" Newell and husband, Charles, of Jackson, Erlene Langston-Adams of Jackson, Linda Morton and husband, Jerry, of Jackson, Mary James and husband, Bud, of Patton, Mo., Sue Clippard and husband, John, of Oak Ridge and Patsy Wendel of Oak Ridge.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Virgil "Bud" Stearns, and an infant daughter.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Charles Newell officiating. Interment will follow in New Salem Methodist Cemetery in Daisy, Mo.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the New Salem Cemetery Fund.