Lawrence "Cline" Freeman (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Lawrence Cline Freeman, son of William and Viola Hutchison Freeman, was born July 4, 1944, in Eldon, Missouri. He was surrounded by his loving family as he departed this life peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, April 5, 2019, in Mercy Hospital, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of seventy-four years, nine months, and one day.
On May 1, 1968, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Judy Carlene Stark, and to this union one daughter and two sons were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Sheila Freeman.
Cline is survived by his loving wife of fifty years, Judy, of the home; a daughter, Melissa Shelton, and her husband, Scott, of Springfield, Missouri; two sons, Bill Freeman, and his wife, Rebecca, and James Freeman, and his wife, Retta, all of Lebanon, Missouri; ten grandchildren, William, Emma, Gracie, Gillian, Sadie, Maddie, Jace, Jax, Bristen, and Gentry; a great-grandchild, Avayla; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was raised in Kansas City and the Macks Creek area, before moving with his family to Tunas, Missouri, where he graduated from Tunas High School. He entered the military as a young man, and served his country faithfully in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Navy Construction Battalion, also known as the Seabees, and was stationed in Japan and Vietnam. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he returned home, and in 1968, he and Judy were married. They resided in Celt, Missouri, before moving to Halfway, where Cline worked for Lakeland Telephone Company in Bolivar. He and Judy then moved to Lebanon where they lovingly raised their family. Cline was a cattle farmer throughout most of his life and also worked at various other jobs. He was employed by the Missouri Department of Transportation for a number of years, retiring in 2008.
Cline had professed his faith in Christ and was a member of Harvest Tabernacle-United Pentecostal Church in Lebanon.
He enjoyed being outdoors where he liked searching for arrowheads, hunting mushrooms, fishing, deer hunting, and gardening. He also enjoyed collecting old rifles. He was an exceptionally gifted woodcarver, specializing in caricatures of the Old West. He was an honest, kind man of integrity, whose word was his bond. His life rotated around his family and he especially enjoyed having time with his grandchildren and great-grandchild.
Cline was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and know that his family and friends will treasure the wonderful memories he made for them during his lifetime.
A memorial has been established to the Alzheimer's Foundation and may be left at the funeral home or visit the Alzheimer's website at https://act.alz.org
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