Rosa Lee (McMurry) Freeman was born in Greensburg, KS, on October 14, 1926. She was the daughter of William Lynn and Rhuy K. (Williams) McMurry. Rosa Lee passed away on January 18, 2023, in WaKeeney, KS.
She grew up on the family farm near Mullinville, KS, with her three brothers and two sisters. Rosa Leegraduated from Mullinville High School, Mullinville, KS, in 1945, and then attended Wichita Beauty School,graduating in 1946. She had a shop in Greensburg until meeting and marrying Lloyd E. Freeman in 1948. They lived in Greensburg and then moved to Clarksville, AR, where Lloyd was in school at the College of the Ozarks. In 1950, they moved to the Abbyville, KS, area where Lloyd farmed and drove a Standard Oil fuel truck. From Abbyville, they moved to Jamestown, KS, and Pratt, KS, and finally to WaKeeney, KS, in 1958.She was a homemaker until they began operating the Standard Oil Truck Stop on I-70 in 1963. After selling the truck stop, Rosa Lee worked at the local IGA grocery store. She was active in the Methodist Church and after retirement she volunteered in the hospital gift shop.
Rosa Lee was preceded in death by: her parents; husband, Lloyd Freeman; son, Donald Freeman; infant grandson, Jarod Ray Freeman; infant brother, Donald McMurry; sisters, Ruth Freeman and Harriet George; and brother, Dale McMurry; son-in-law Brian Hill.
She is survived by: her brother, William ‘Bill’ (Elaine) McMurry; children, Karen Cole of Manhattan, Christine (JC) Statler of Wichita, Ronald (Elaine) Freeman of WaKeeney, and Alan (Cindy) Freeman of Hutchinson; grandchildren, Jason (Sheila) Cole and children, Connor, Dillon, and Clare; Bradley (Jen) Cole; Melissa Statler (Tan) Do and children, Maisy, Chase, Mallory, and Simon; Matthieu (Sarah) Statler and children, Joel, Hudson, and Jude; Morgan Statler (David) Hogland and children, Brayden and Asher; Megan (Justin) Bland and children, Carlee, Austyn, and SenaKay; Robynn (Dustin) Hickert and children, Stella and Mason; Megan (Royce) Purinton and children, Chloe, Isaac, Amelia, and Caroline; and Casey (Tyler) Freeman.
Family graveside service will be 11 a.m., Friday, January 27, 2023, at Fairview Cemetery, Elmer, KS. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Fairview Cemetery or Trego Hospital Endowment Foundation Inc., in care of Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.