Shirley Ann Freestone

Shirley Ann Freestone, 74, of Rossville, passed away at her home on Sunday, July 20, 2014, following a brief illness.

She was born May 10, 1940, in Hillisburg to Walter G. and Mary F. Hutchison Kelly.  On September 22, 1963, she married Robert W. Freestone in Rossville United Methodist Church where she and Robert are members.  Shirley graduated from Rossville High School in 1958.  She worked for National Homes Acceptance in cost accounting before retiring 1974.  Shirley was a member of Rossville United Methodist Church.

Shirley’s interests were varied and wide and she was competitive and passionate in everything she decided to pursue.  She has always been deeply involved with all aspects of horse-related activities from showing her own horses in 4-H as a young girl to custom designing and sewing horseshow outfits, both English and Western.  She was a master seamstress and leather crafter, once making two complete saddles with no formal training.  Her sewing talents took her into making several wedding and bridesmaids dresses as well. Her leather work included making custom-fitted western chaps, hand-tooled belts and other accessories.  Shirley and her husband Bob have served as past leaders of the Clinton County 4-H Horse and Pony Club.  Shirley had her own motorhome, and could often be seen on weekends throughout the year loading up her 106 pound Doberman, Thor, and driving to Horse Shows from Illinois to Ohio, where she took great joy in cooking for all her show family and friends.  Cooking was a passion she enjoyed inside the home, preparing both Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts for family and friends every year.  Her organizational skills, coupled with a passion for golf later in life, led her to serving as the leader for the Angel Hill Ladies Golf League.  She also loved camping and fishing with her husband while her daughters were growing up.  Shirley and Bob bought their Corvette 31 years ago and joined the Star City Corvette Club and later the Lafayette Corvette Club, winning many trophies, both showing the car as well as competing in Racing and Rally Events over the years.  Shirley has loved animals of all kinds her entire life, and much to her husband’s dismay, would always find a way to take in a stray kitten or two that “happened” to show up at her doorstep.  She is loved and will be missed by her family and all who knew her.

In addition to her husband, Shirley is survived by one daughter, Kathy Lynn Reach and grandson, Duncan Reach, both of Bringhurst; three sisters, Carolyn (Lloyd) Mikesell of Monticello, Barbara (Max) Julian of rural Lafayette, and Debra (Jeff) Lineback of Rossville; and two brothers, Jeffrey (Cathy) Kelly of Lafayette, and Alan Kelly of Rossville.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents and one daughter, Kelly Ann Freestone, in 2009.

Visitation for Shirley will be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2014, at Genda Funeral Home Rossville Chapel from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2014, at the funeral home with Pastor Brian White officiating.  Inurnment will be held at a later date in Rossville Cemetery.  Memorials in Shirley’s name may be made to Clinton County Cancer.  Online condolences may be directed to www.gendafuneralhome.com.