Robert Royce Freeman

Robert Royce “Bobby” Freeman, resident of Russellville, Arkansas and U.S. Veteran with extended family members in Fayette County departed this life Friday morning, August 2, 2013 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas where he had been a patient for 9½ months.  He was 66 years of age and died following an extended illness.

Services of Remembrance with Military Honors for Mr. Freeman were conducted at 10 A.M. Tuesday, August 6th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Bro. John Jones of the Clopton Umited Methodist Church in Brighton officiating. Personal remarks were given by his sister-in-law, Aneta “Betsy” Freeman of Oakland. Interment followed in the Memphis Memory Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center — West Chapel at 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 moved at an early age with his family to the Memphis area and was a 1965 graduate of Treadwell High School in Memphis. He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War Period and had been employed by the United Parcel Service for 31 years. He had served as a long distance driver for the company and also a dispatch supervisor before his retirement.

Mr. Freeman was a member of the Russellville Missionary Baptist Church and his interests included traveling, square-dancing and fishing. He was married may 31, 1986 to the former Norene Waller, who survives. Mr. Freeman was an avid lover of animals and nature. He enjoyed special times that included talking and visiting often with his twin brother, Billy Freeman of Oakland, who preceded him in death on January 30, 2012.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Freeman is survived by two daughters, Angela Marie Freeman of Memphis, Debbie Laymon of Dover, AR; his son, Joe Marshall (Cyndi) of Millington; five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his son, Bubba Robertson.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Kevin Williams, Jim Wiley, Bob Wiley, Buddy Rhodes, Bill Rhodes and Burt Milam.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the St. Jude Tribute Program, P.O. Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148.