Zada Freeman

Zada Bell Freeman entered this world on September 25th, 1930, and left on November 11th, 2024, a full life of over 94 years. She was born in Charleston, Arkansas to Isaac and Amy Waggoner. She was raised milking cows on the family dairy farm in Lavacca, Arkansas where she graduated high school. She first met the love of her life at the age of fourteen through the country church they both attended. They reunited a few years later and she was married to William D. Freeman on July 20th, 1950. 

She is survived by her husband “Bill” and two children, Myria Chadic and her husband Stanley Chadic of Coweta, OK and Duane Freeman and his partner Alisa Hall of Tulsa, OK; five grandchildren: Sharon Northen and her husband John Northen, Ricky Chadic, Allen Chadic and his wife Ginger Chadic, Brian Chadic and Alex Freeman; six great-grandchildren and twenty-three great-great-grandchildren. She is survived by two sisters, Thelma Aikins of Van Buren, AR and Sue Jetton and her husband Zoland Jetton of Charleston, AR. Zada was predeceased by her brothers; J.I. Waggoner, Marvin Waggoner, Marion Waggoner and Herschel Waggoner, her sister Dorothy Raney, grandchild Tammy Lambert, and Alex’s mother Janet Freeman who she loved as her own daughter. 

Zada had worked at a wide variety of jobs outside of the home. S.H. Kress five and dime stores in Ft. Smith, AR, picking in the fields of California, factory jobs, as a cook in an elementary school, owning and operating a laundromat, florist in a flower shop and traveling with her husband Bill to open new store locations for the family business, Freeman Products, Inc. Together they would start up in a new town such as Baton Rouge, LA, working from a mini storage until they built the business enough to hire help and open a true store location. But the job she valued the most was taking care of her family, particularly her loving husband of 74 plus years. 

Oak Lodge Church in Spiro, OK was always a part of her life and she rejoiced in being able to worship with her extended family there. She was strong willed and independent but always willing to help those around her. In the early years in California, it seemed there was always someone staying at the house with the family. She did her best to be the one that didn’t take sides with those in conflict and not judge others. The one you knew you could count on. If you knew her you loved her. 

Zada kept busy throughout her life. Cooking for her family and family gatherings was one of her greatest joys in life. She was a wonderful baker famous for her pecan pies and layered desserts. Growing a garden most of her life, it always meant more was given away than was eaten at home. In her 60’s she began doing water aerobics continuing for over 25 years, teaching for the last 20. Her secret to her long life she would tell you is to “keep moving”. She would also tell you “this getting old isn’t for the weak at heart”. She is at last at rest in heaven.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate her life and cherish the memories she leaves behind. A visitation will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Schaudt Funeral Service in Tulsa, 5757 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145.

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 11:30 AM at Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas, 4211 State Line Road, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72916.