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On the morning of August 3, 2015, Leamon “Junior” Freeman went Home to be with his Lord and Savior; he was 62 years old. He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 24, 1953.
Junior was preceded in death by his mother Annette Clay. He is survived by his wife Ruth Freeman, father Leamon Freeman and wife Fay, sister Mary Savuto and husband Michael, stepsister Dana Bellingham and husband Jim, stepdaughter Jessica Woods and husband Nathan, stepson James Kline IV, nephew Shawn Savuto and niece Mikayla Savuto. He had 3 grandchildren, Noah, Nehemiah and Grace Woods.
Junior spent most of his adult life in the oil and gas business. He lived in Montana, North Dakota and Indiana while working as a land man. Tired of traveling, he moved to Florida where his love of the water and boating had him selling boats. Upon moving back to Oklahoma, using his oil and gas experience, he accepted a job with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in the oil and gas complaints department and worked there many years until his death.
Junior can best be described as creative, competitive, dedicated and loving, and most of all fun-loving.
Creative: Junior was an excellent and creative chef. He took great pride in his Tabasco Caesar salad and unusual salsas. He could go into anyone’s kitchen and make a gourmet meal out of the left-overs in the refrigerator. He was a painter and jewelry maker, even making pieces given to Dolly Parton at a rodeo event. He designed and had made the wedding rings he and Ruth wore based on an influence he found while they were in Hawaii.
Competitive: Junior won many 1st place awards competing in the salsa category at the state fair. (Now, someone else will finally have a chance to win.) Junior took part in competitive jalapeño eating events, played poker with Jerry Mathers “the Beave” in a poker tournament, enjoyed a guy’s night out playing poker now and then, and he also competed in demolition derbies and fished bass tournaments.
Dedicated and loving: Junior LOVED OU football! No bigger fan can be found anywhere! He was a member of the “Parrot Head” Club – Jimmy Buffett’s fan club and attend as many of his concerts as he could, even traveling out of state. He loved his family and would do anything for them. He spent countless hours searching for that rare “Beanie Baby” for his niece, Mikayla – if she wanted it, he would find it and didn’t care what it costs. He took his nephew, Shawn, fishing and when Shawn was grown, he taught him how to make his famous Tabasco Caesar salad. When they were children, he always had new pool toys when they visited him in Indiana and Florida. He adored and loved Ruth and said he could never repay her for all she had done for him and she feels the same deep love and affection for him; their time together was cut too short.
Fun-loving: Junior could make most anything fun. He loved hosting pool parties and OU football watch parties. Probably his favorite was the outrageous Halloween parties he and Ruth hosted. It took weeks to properly plan and decorate. Costumes were often elaborate. He also enjoyed scuba diving in the Caribbean, hot air ballooning at Fiesta in Albuquerque and snowmobiling through Yellowstone. His hearty laugh will be missed by all.
And there were those shenanigans in his younger days! All I’ll say is, those of you who were accomplices, and you know who you are, learned from one of the best, although, that wasn’t necessarily a good thing!
Junior’s life was cut short but he lived more fully than most of us ever will. We are all blessed to have known him. His hearty laugh, big smile and stories will be missed by all. We love and miss you Junior.
A celebration of Junior’s life has been set for 1:00 P.M. Saturday, August 8, 2015 at the Britton & Broadway campus of LifeChurch located at 9001 N. Broadway Extension, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73114. Per Junior’s wishes, please wear your favorite OU attire, costume or Hawaiian shirts & shorts.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to LifeChurch, Spaces and Places.
A Tribute to Junior:
http://videos.lifetributes.com/619175
Camesa passarelli says
Ruth my thoughts and prayers are with you. I know he was a fortunate man to have you by his side!
Sandi Bomgaars says
JR is now your special angel watching over you. My heart goes out to you.
Shelly Lowber King says
Ruth, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jeff says
Junior,
You are the best friend I have ever had or will have! Thank you for 45 years of cherished memories.
I will love and miss you for the rest of my life!
Ruth is your angel.
See you on the other side.
Jeff
Cyreise Highfill says
Ruth our hearts and prayers are with you…Heaven just got a little bit brighter!!!
Rebecca Fondren says
Ruth, I just wanted to say I’m very sorry for your loss. Junior was an awesome, amazing, fun loving person and I was very sad to find out he passed away. I, as many in the office loved him like an older brother. Working with him for over 13 years in the same department was fantastic. Everyday was always a fun experience with Junior whether it be something job related or O.U. football. I can also remember all the fun times l had at the parties you both used to throw for Halloween or other occasions. You were both an awesome fun loving couple who knew how to live life to the fullest. It was a blessing to work with him and to get to know you both. Junior had touch many lives in so many different ways and always had a warm friendly smile on his face no matter what life threw at him. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. – Becky
Dennis says
I can’t even put into words how much I am going to miss junior, we have had so many fun conversations over chips and salsa over the years. Fine tuning his entrys for the salsa competion at the fair each year was always fun and tasteful. No matter how our day was going, we always made each other laugh for a minute to make it just a little brighter. You will be missed my friend….
Rodney Poff says
Heaven gained a great one! Junior was amazing, as a friend, a fan, whatever the category-he was tops.
See you on the other side brother.
G. Patrick Riley says
Junior was full of love, compassion, joy, and courage. He was a great person and his light will shine bright in heaven. He was one of my greatest students and friends.
Robert & Valree Bergen says
We can’t tell you how much we have missed living next door to Jr. And Ruth. Best neighbors ever!!! The salsa tasting, pool parties, Halloween parties, getting dresses for the TNT balls and just hanging out. We will miss Jr. And our thought and prayers are for Ruth, dad, kids and the rest of the family. We will miss Jr. ~ Love Robert and Valree ~
JANE KITCHENS says
HEAVEN’S SOONER CLUB GAINED A BRIGHT STAR. HE’LL BE WATCHING THE GAMES FROM THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE. JUNIOR LIVED MORE FULLY THAN ANYONE I’VE EVER KNOWN. HE WAS ABSOLUTELY FEARLESS. I’LL BE LOST WITHOUT HIS COMPANIONSHIP. BOOMER!
Mallory Day says
Junior was such a wonderful bright light in this world and I’m so fortunate to have had the honor and privilege of having him shine in my life! I’ll miss you friend and my thoughts & prayers are with you Ruth and your family. – Mal
Karen Billing says
Junior will be missed by all who knew him and enjoyed his carefree, upbeat & fun loving spirit. He was a great SOONER fan & so much more. I am so sorry to hear of his passing.
Karen Clanahan says
Ruth, that bright flash of light that came into your life when you met Junior is shining somewhere else now…and I know Junior is up there entertaining all while he waits for you to be by his side again some day.
Teresa Cole (Thorne) says
I remember Junior from Mr Riley’s art class. He was one of few that excelled in art and still retained his “cool” status with the guys who were just trying to get through it. I think his talent surprised even him, and I’m glad he enriched that talent through the years. A star has winked out and I am sadder for it.
Bill and Trina Geer says
COPA and all of us who’ve known you have lost a friend and extremely funny Parrothead! Your smile and sense of humor will be missed.
Jim Palmer says
Junior, I miss the great lunches we had over burgers and fries and the wonderful tasting sessions with your newly blended salsa samples. I always thought they were the best salsa I ever tasted. You are the greatest OU fan I have ever known. I loved your license tag “OU FAN R U”. Most of all,I will miss your friendship and the talks we had through the years. You always spread love and fun wherever you were. oh !…and the most inventive and decorative costumes for sure. Billie and I will miss you. Our love and prayers for Ruth. See you on the other side my friend.
Carol Lane says
Ruth,
I am so sorry for your loss. You are in my thought & prayers. Even though I didn’t know Junior personally, I know he was a eonderful man due to the positive impact he had on your life & the glow of happiness that surrounds you when you speak his name.
Greg Walker says
So sorry for your loss Ruth. Junior and I kept saying we were going to get together at Johnnie’s with the wives and laugh about old times. I’m so sorry we didn’t get to do that and I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you. The last time I talked to Junior we talked about our HS reunion coming up and how we were looking forward to seeing everyone. I know I will miss him and so will everyone there that knew him. My deepest condolences and prayers are with you.
Greg Walker
Michael Decker says
Junior Freeman was a selfless professional who was one of the most reliable and trustworthy individuals in state government when assisting mineral and royalty owners with problems. He was always ready and able to assist colleagues and members of the public with problems in his role as a consumer service representative. His happy outlook and positive approach to life will be greatly missed. May God bless Junior’s family at this time of loss.
Doug McNiven says
A great friend and card playing buddy. Miss seeing what costume you guys would come up with this time. Ruth you got one of the best. Time was short, but the amount of love and fun was huge.
Carol Poteet (Smith) Hampton says
Mary, Ruth and Family,
I just found out about Junior’s passing. How sad. Junior was always a fun loving guy. He loved his family and friends. He enjoyed life to the fullest. Junior was a very special person. God Bless.
Rena Dees says
Ruth,
I just found out about Jr’s passing right before TX-OU last weekend. I am Boomer Sooner’s Longhorn Buddy whom he loved to call & harass me during the game at your TX-OU party. As I was at the game in Dallas it just wasn’t TX-OU for me since I missed my dear friend’s call. You were the best in Jr’s life he told me so many times how lucky he was to find the love of his life. He always told me I was probably the only Longhorn friend he had but he was my best Boomer Sooner friend I could have ever had the privilege to meet and share so many years.
Rena Dees
Houston, TX.
Gary Quinnett says
I just learned of Junior’s passing. I always felt like we had a secret weapon at the corporation commission. He was thorough and knowledgeable about all things oil and gas. Plus, he was always upbeat about it. I miss him. Gary Quinnett, Norman
April Hemphill says
Uncle Junior, as I knew him, left such a positive mark on my life. Although I only knew him when I was a child, I remember him distinctly–he was such a creative, fun presence, such a warm and hilarious person. And boy, could he cook! I still treasure two hand-painted works of art I have from him, a Care bear-themed nursery light switch cover and Toothfairy box. I will pass those on to my children remember Uncle Junior! Even now, my baby is enamoured with the Care Bear cover. Love, April (Reiter) Hemphill