Billy Cloyes Freeman

William Cloyes “Billy” Freeman, resident of the Oakland Community, United States Navy Vietnam Veteran and husband of Aneta “Betsy” Freeman died Monday morning, January 30, 2012 at the Methodist Hospital in Somerville after becoming suddenly ill at his residence. He was 64 years of age and died following an illness of several months.

Services of Remembrance with Military Honors for Mr. Freeman were conducted at 11 A.M. Thursday, February 2nd at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Bro. John Jones and Bro. Bob Strickland officiating. Personal remarks were provided by Rudy Doyle, Oakland Fire Chief. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes and Cremation Center — West Chapel of Oakland.

Mr. Freeman was born May 31, 1947 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cloyes Blackwell Freeman and Florence Marie Ellis Freeman. He was educated in the Memphis City Public School System and was a graduate of Treadwell High School in Memphis. Mr. Freeman served his country in the United States Navy during the Vietnam period from 1966 to 1970.

Mr. Freeman was married December 27, 1971 to the former Aneta “Betsy” Flynn, a Memphis native and retired employee of Methodist Health Systems, who survives. He was employed by the Schering-Plough Corporation in Memphis as a Mechanic Specialist in the Parts Room for 25 years before his retirement in 1996.

Mr. Freeman was a former resident of the Memphis area before moving to the Oakland area in 1988. He was an active member of his community and participated in numerous community projects that included serving as director for the Emergency Operations Center. He was an active HAM operator and a 20 year member of Barefoot Bullfrog Net/Tri-State Repeater for those involved in weather forecasting and weather preparedness. Mr. Freeman was a Mason and a member of New Bethel United Methodist Church in Fayette County.

In addition to his wife of 40 years, Mr. Freeman is survived by his brother, Robert R. Freeman (Norene) of Russellville, AR; and a special niece, Angela Marie Freeman of Memphis.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Youth Program at New Bethel United Methodist Church, 3730 Highway 194, Rossville, TN 38066 or the Shelby County Chapter of the American Kidney Foundation, 857 Mt. Moriah Road, Suite 201, Memphis, TN 38117-5704.