Freeda Huskey

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Freeda Marie VanMatre Huskey was born May 9, 1924, at Gipsy, Missouri, the oldest of seven children born to the late Noah and Lillie Jackson VanMatre, and passed away Monday, Feb. 6. 2017.

She was united in marriage Feb. 13, 1944, to T.H Huskey Jr., a 1942 high-school classmate. He preceded her in death March 30, 1974. Also, preceding her in death were three brothers, J.B., Gene and Clint VanMatre.

She leaves her son, Joe (Carole Smith) Huskey of Marble Hill; three sisters, Ruth Hinkle of Cape Girardeau, Shirley (Melvin) Bollinger of Marble Hill and Kay (Jerry) Smith of Montgomery, Alabama; three sisters-in-law, Sandy Huskey of Palos Heights, Illinois, Carol Counts of Marble Hill and Becky Douglas of Pevely, Missouri; along with several nieces and nephews.

Freeda attended grade school in Zalma, Missouri, until 1938, when her family moved near Marble Hill. She then attended Lutesville High School (now Woodland), where she graduated as class valedictorian in 1942. The following fall, she began teaching at the Marble Hill School, known as the "rock building," where she taught primary grades from 1942 until 1944. She also taught grades one to eight at several rural schools, including Pounds near Grassy, Union Ridge, Scopus and Pine Hill, Missouri.

After completing her bachelor's degree in education in 1960, she taught in the Woodland School system until her retirement in 1984. One of her finest moments was having former students tell of her days in the classroom, where she stressed conservation and wildlife, including birds and the planting of trees. She supervised the planting of trees for all retiring teachers and, with help from the FFA chapter, built a bridge for a nature walk behind the Woodland School building. She also recalled having her class bury a time capsule on the Woodland School grounds.

During the 1940s, Freeda worked for the Missouri Extension Office, as well as in the county superintendent's office and other county offices. One of her positions involved recording military discharges during and after World War II. She also assisted in distributing rationing stamp booklets during World War II.

She was the oldest living member of Harmony Congregational Methodist Church near Marble Hill, having been a member for over 65 years and the last of the older generation of pioneer church members who attended Harmony in the 1940s in the original building that was removed in the mid-1950s.

She was a former dean and teacher for the Calvary Hilltop church camp, taught Sunday school and helped organize Christmas programs for many years, along with helping with the church music programs as long as her health permitted. After retirement, she was a substitute teacher at Leopold, Missouri, and volunteered at the Senior Nutrition Center until 2011, along with various other community activities, including the Bollinger County Historical Society, in which she was one of the hostesses for the Massey Log House, served on committees and held various offices.

She was a 4-H leader for many years, and even incorporated 4-H into her own classroom at Woodland as a creative way of teaching science, math and other skills. She served on the Bollinger County 4-H Council and also assisted at the 4-H Camp at Lake Wappapello in the 1970s.

She was a member and officer for many years of the Hog Creek Homemakers Extension Club, served as a board member for Bollinger County Family Services and belonged to Alpha Delta Kappa teachers' sorority, in which she held various offices and participated in chapter activities.

Freeda always had a smile for those with whom she came in contact, even after her health declined and she was a patient in the nursing home and hospital. Her Christian spirit was always burning brightly.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be made, through Liley Funeral Home, to the Lessley Ridge Cemetery or Harmony Congregational Methodist Church.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Harmony Congregational Methodist Church.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Revs. Elijah Allen, Bill Ross and Greg Burns officiating. Burial will be in Lessley Ridge Cemetery near Marble Hill.

Liley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.