Nancy Ruth (Bennett) Freeman, passed away after a brief illness in Amarillo, Texas, Monday morning, August 15, 2022. She was born February 26, 1944, in Dodge City, Kansas to Roy and Dorothy (Beeth) Bennett and was the third of three children. She grew up in Hugoton, Kansas where she enjoyed a wide variety of interests. Nancy was an active member of First Christian Church, Hugoton, as well as Rainbow Girls Club, 4-H, and performed in many musicals and plays. Nancy attended Hugoton High School in Hugoton, KS where she was an honors and national honors student throughout her school years. One of her favorite things was spending time with her dad on the golf course and she also spent a lot of time at the city pool lifeguarding and participating on the synchronized swimming team.
After graduating High School in 1962, she worked for the local telephone company and finished beautician school in Liberal, KS. She married Charles “Chuck” Freeman on March 2, 1963. Following their marriage, the couple resided in Liberal, Kansas where they began their family. Randall Wayne (Rocky) was their first son followed by Van Alan 2 years later both born in Liberal. After moving to Woodward, Oklahoma, Kelly Jean was born in Mooreland, Oklahoma.
Returning to Liberal, Kansas, Nancy worked hard on building a home and raising three children. After raising her children, she pursued a career in nursing, graduating with top honors and becoming a registered nurse.
In 1994 Chuck and Nancy moved to Amarillo, Texas, a city they had always enjoyed visiting throughout the years of their marriage. Nancy was employed by Baptist St. Anthony’s as well as by several physicians in the area. She and Chuck were active members at Paramount Terrace Christian and Hillside Christian Church where Nancy enjoyed music and choir and where she developed a true desire to be involved in church missions to various places around the world, including multiple trips to Jamaica, as well as Armenia, Belarus, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. In most of these trips, Nancy was also able to employ her nursing skills in addition to spreading the word of Christ. These missions so touched Nancy’s heart, she kept very detailed journals, as she loved to share with everyone her experience. Her love of helping others and witnessing for Christ carried on throughout the rest of her life.
Chuck and Nancy moved to Edmond, OK in 2008, where they were members of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Chuck and Nancy served on the Greeting Committee, and Nancy continued to enjoy singing in the choir. She was also a member of the emergency medical response team for the church. Both Chuck and Nancy very much enjoyed their time spent with their Sunday School class, from studying the Word each Sunday to the many fellowships and trips they took together. This led to lasting friendships and stories they continued to share with friends and family. This truly added joy to their lives!
While in Edmond, Chuck and Nancy continued their support of Oklahoma State Athletics by attending homecoming parades and enjoyed watching the games with several family members. They also enjoyed attending any game featuring a member of the family; they loved cheering them on!
They also loved travel, including regular trips back to Amarillo to visit their daughter Kelly and her husband Steve and their many friends there along with trips to Dallas to see their son Van. They also enjoyed travelling to many NFL games around the country.
Chuck and Nancy had recently returned to Amarillo, Texas, where they resumed membership at Hillside Christian Church. After settling into a cottage at The Craig Amarillo, they once again made fast friends with whomever crossed their path. Even in her last year, she loved helping staff in her retirement communities as they served resident’s needs.
Nancy and the kids lost Chuck unexpectedly in September of 2021.
She will be remembered with great fondness and will be sorely missed by all who knew her. The hole her absence will leave can never be filled, but we rejoice knowing she is reunited in Heaven with loved ones who passed before her.
She is survived by her son Randall (Rocky) Freeman and his wife Sheila (Lewis) Freeman of Amarillo, Texas; son Van Freeman of Fort Worth, Texas; and daughter Kelly and her husband Steve Hixon of Amarillo, Texas; her brother Roger Bennett of Delta, Colorado; and her granddaughter Rhandall Freeman of Amarillo, TX.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents Roy and Dorothy Bennett, her husband Chuck, and her brother Paul Bennett.
Funeral service will be 10:00 AM Monday, August 22, 2022, at the First Christian Church in Hugoton, Kansas, with Pastor Heath Kelley officiating. Interment will follow at the Hugoton Cemetery in Hugoton. Family will be present to greet friends Sunday, August 21 2022, from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home, 920 E. 11th St. in Hugoton. Memorial contributions may be made in Nancy’s memory to the College of the Ozarks or Alzheimer’s Association in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 920 E. 11th St. Hugoton, KS 67951. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.
