Freeda Marie VanMatre Huskey was born May 9, 1924 at Gipsy Mo the oldest of seven children born to the late Noah and Lillie Jackson VanMatre and passed away on February 6. 2017. She was united in marriage on February 13, 1944 to T.H Huskey Jr (a 1942 high school classmate) who preceded her in death on March 30, 1974. Also, preceding her in death were three brothers, J.B, Gene and Clint VanMatre.

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

Freeda attended grade school in Zalma, MO 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 1-8 at several rural schools including Pounds near Grassy, Union Ridge, Scopus and Pine Hill. After completing her bachelor's degree in education in 1960 she taught at 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 wild life 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 MO 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 that 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 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 the 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 Thursday, February 9, 2017 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at the Harmony Congregational Methodist Church.

Funeral Services will be Friday, February 10, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Church with the Rev. Elijah Allen, Rev. Bill Ross and Rev. Greg Burns officiating. Burial will follow in the Lessley Ridge Cemetery near Marble Hill, MO.

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