Funeral service for Freda Mae Schutes, 96 year-old Weatherford resident, will be held on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at 10:00 AM in The Chapel of Lockstone Funeral Home with Earl Stephenson officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Lockstone Funeral Home.

Freda was born on February 23, 1918 to Chester A. and Eva E. (Roof) Wright in Weatherford, Oklahoma and passed away on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at Sterling House in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Fredas parents had a farm 5 miles north of Weatherford, when Freda was born. Thats where she lived until the age of 5 or 6 at which time they moved to a farm 2 miles north of Weatherford, where she lived until she married in 1936. She enjoyed being the oldest of three brothers and three sisters.

Being the daughter of a farmer, Freda learned to do many things around the farm. She helped with the raising and harvesting of Corn, Wheat, and Cotton. She ran the Go-Devil and the Harrow but she never drove the tractor because her father didnt have one until she was in High School. One of her daily responsibilities before breakfast was to milk the cows, and help separate the milk.

Freda walked 1-2 miles each day to attend Cottonwood School, north of Weatherford, from grades 1 through 8. Then she completed Junior High and Senior High School in Weatherford, graduating in 1935 at the age of 17.

One winter morning during her first grade year, her mother did not want her to walk to school in the snow, but Freda cried until Mother changed her mind. She fell several times on the way, and since her mittens were very thin, her hands were frozen by the time she reached the schoolhouse. The teacher placed her in a seat across the room from the stove, and put her hands in a bowl of snow, until her father could come to pick her up in his Model T (which took several hours). Even though her hands were solid blisters for several days, they eventually cleared up, and she suffered no permanent damage.

On May 9th 1936, Freda was married to Vernon W. Schutes. The marriage ceremony was conducted by Rev. Shaw, Pastor of the Weatherford Christian Church.

In 1937, Vernon and Freda moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where Vernon worked at Sams Motor Company and Luke Field. Freda worked at the Woolworth Store, where she worked her way up to the head of the Soda Fountain Department.

When WWII broke out in 1941, Vernon joined the military, serving with the 9th Air Force in England and Germany. Freda moved back to Weatherford where she waited three long years for Vernon to return from the War.

After the war, Vernon joined Freda in Weatherford, and soon afterwards, The Schutes Body Shop was open for business. They would work side by side for the next thirty-six years, Vernon repairing cars, and Freda keeping the books. She also owned a local caf, The Tiny Diner, which she sold in 1950. They retired from the body shop business in 1982 and they moved to a ranch in Milburn, OK until 1986 when they returned home to Weatherford.

The Lord had been good to them, giving them almost 55 years together; a son, Larry, whom they adopted in 1954 and a daughter, Terry, whom they adopted in 1957;

For many years Freda has faithfully served her church and her community. Here is a list of some of her contributions in those two areas:

Taught Junior High Sunday School class, sponsoring them to Lugert Summer Camp.

Cooked at Falls Creek for 11 years (fond memories of those years include serving with the likes of Albert and Pearl Friesen, Connie Hix, Melva Dickey, and Francie Merchant).

Served the Lord in many other ways.

Former Secretary of the Weatherford Chapter of AARP

Pink Lady at the Southwestern Memorial Hospital.

Member of the Sight Council at Weatherford Pioneer Center.

Hobbies and Honors Include

Bridge

Bowling (Member of the 600 club with a 653 series

Ceramics Taught classes for many years and in 1973 made 300 plates for Weatherfords 75th Anniversary celebration (The Pioneer Trails to Space Flight, 1898 1973)

Traveling and Camping

Spending time with family

Cooking

Freda is survived by one daughter, Terry Villines and her husband Ben of Weatherford; one brother Bob Wright of Las Cruces, New Mexico; three sisters-in-law, Myra Wright, Iva Loo, and Jane Wright; one brother-in-law, David Dryden; six grandchildren, Derek Schutes and wife Erin of Michigan, Amanda Kuehnle and husband Mark of Michigan, Jason Schutes of Nebraska, Tosha Robinson and husband Carter, April Riddell and husband Cody, and Matthew Villines and wife Chelsea, all of Weatherford; and eleven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers, LeRoy and Don; and three sisters, Fern, Doris and Joy; and one son, Larry.