Freda Millspaugh (Strong, Shaver, Butler)

03/20/1922 - 07/16/2017

Freda was born March 20, 1922 in Leominster, MA, to Ellen Backus and Fred Strong. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her first husband Harold Shaver, second husband Donald Butler, third husband Phillip Millspaugh, sisters Stella Bailey, June Switzer, brothers William Bailey, Daniel Moore, step-brother Leslie Moore, and step-daughter Marilyn Roberts. She is survived by her daughter Sandra (David) Burton of Summerville, FL, grandchildren Kent(Rose) Burton, Port Orchard, WA; Kelly(Kevin) Brandon, Palmyra, PA; Keith Burton, Cleona, PA; son Harold (Bud) Shaver of Horseheads, NY, grandchildren Karlie(Frank) Rinere Mooresville, NC; Kristen(Jim) Lee Inman, SC son Richard (Patti) Butler of Punta Gorda, FL, grandchildren Christina Margut Rochester, NY: Amanda Riviera Rochester, NY step-daughter Donna (Walt) Nash of San Antonio, FL, step-grandchildren Pam(Ralph) Grazelle Mexico, NY; Mary(Dave) Ledefaue Sitka, AK; sister Mona Vibbert of Palmyra, NY, several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. When she was eight years old, she and her sister Stella were rescued from a car fire by their father Frederick Strong, who later died due to his injuries sustained during the rescue. Friends urged her mother to place the children in foster homes but she would not consider it and moved with the children to their grandfather's home in New Hampshire. A few years later her mother remarried and moved the family to central New York. When she was 14, her stepfather left the family desolate and no one had a driver's license which was important since they lived in a house on a dirt road in the country. Freda had to walk a considerable distance to school every day and she was the only one able to stop at the welfare office after school to sign her family up for assistance. She also had to carry flour, sugar, lard, oatmeal, etc home for the family. She never complained. Because of her, the family had food to eat and they survived. While living there, Freda received her schooling but dropped out after the 11" grade because the family could not afford the textbooks for 12" grade. She started to work at Titcomb's Department store in Baldwinsville earning enough money to buy her younger sister, Mona, her first dress. In Baldwinsville she met a young meat cutter Harold (Sandy) Shaver. He was nicknamed Sandy because of is red hair. Harold and Freda were married in 1943. With husband Harold, they purchased and operated a Red & White country grocery store in Clay, NY. Harold died in 1949 when Freda was only 27 and she was left with a 5 year old daughter and 4 year old son. Freda's attitude was: "You do what you have to do, an attitude she inherited from her mother. To help pay for Harold's medical expenses, she would deliver groceries from the store once a week to the doctor who treated Harold. She continued to operate the store on her own until she married Don Butler in 1951. In 1952, their son Rick was born. In 1959, Don was transferred to Elmira with Millbrook Bread Company and the family moved to Elmira Heights. After a short while, they opened a lunch counter business on Elmira's southside but chose to build a restaurant/residence in the Alpine Junction area. While under construction in 1963, Don died. Freda continued with the project convincing the bank she could be successful and the "Little Gem" restaurant was born. When she married Phil Millspaugh in 1974, she sold the restaurant/residence and semi-retired. For a few years she worked part-time selling real estate. She and Phil enjoyed traveling with their camper even going to Alaska and also spending time at Phil's cottage on Keuka Lake. In later years, after Phil died in 1988, she enjoyed dancing with her dear friend Dominic Giambo and was also a member of the "Dancing Grannies". Freda's life was not always easy, but she enjoyed it to the fullest. Her motto was "You do what you have to do", and Freda did. Calling hours will be on Thursday, July 20, 2017 from 4 -6 PM at Sullivan's Funeral Home, 365 E. Franklin St., at Rt. 13, Horseheads, NY. A Catholic Service will be performed at the conclusion of calling hours. Freda will be buried in the Jacksonville Rural Cemetery in Lysander, NY next to her husband Harold at the family's convenience. Those wishing to remember Freda consider memorial contributions to Arnot Ogden Medical Center Foundation, Falck Cancer Center, 600 Roe Ave., Elmira, NY 14905. Condolences and words of comfort may be expressed at Freda's Book of Memories at www.sullivansfuneralhome.com.

Published in Star-Gazette from July 19 to July 20, 2017