Billie Wayne Freeman, 85, of Twin Falls, died Monday, November 14, 2016 at home.
Bill was born Sept. 15, 1931 in Somerton, Arizona. He was the youngest of ten children born to Charles and Irene Freeman. Bill spent the majority of his childhood growing up on a farm and graduated from high school in Wendell, ID.
At 16, Bill lied about his age and joined the National Guard. Bill then joined the Navy at 17 and was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Valley Forge just before and during the Korean War. While Bill was in the Navy his family moved to Viola, AR.
Bill was discharged from the Navy and hitch-hiked to Arkansas to be with his family. Unable to find a job there, Bill joined the Air Force Reserve and applied for active duty in order to keep his Navy rank. He was stationed in Shreveport, LA.
During that time, Bill hitchhiked home to Arkansas on weekends to rodeo with his brothers. They were professional cowboys and got paid $5 a head to ride bareback broncs and bulls.
Bill met his future bride, Mary Laureta Owens, in a small café in Salem, AR. Bill’s father died so his Mom and brother decided to move back to Idaho. The Air Force was doing an early release program at the time so Bill got out of the service and moved back to Wendell to help his Mom and brother.
After service in the Armed Forces, Bill worked at a grain elevator in Wendell, the fall harvest in Washington, at a Sawmill in Oregon, and then settled in Kimberly, ID as a State Brand Inspector. Bill moved his family to Twin Falls, ID and took a job as a Federal Animal Health Inspector.
Bill’s musical skills were self-taught, yet he became a professional musician playing in several local bands; Ray Crumbliss and the Saints, The Misfits, The Walden Brothers, The Hits and Misses, and the McBride Brothers. The Saints also served as the house band at Cactus Pete’s in Jackpot, NV for traveling stars. He played with Roy Clark of Hee-Haw fame, Joe and Rose Lee Maphis, Sue Thompson, and Henry Sharpe of Bakersfield.
Bill’s hobbies were many. He raised “roller” pigeons, rode dirt bikes, flew model airplanes, and loved bowling, acquiring many friends along the way.
Bill is survived by his wife, Laureta; two children, Candy and Doug (Cheri) Freeman; six grandchildren, Cassie (Jeremy) Nesset, of Lewiston, Cody Freeman, of Twin Falls, Nick McMullin, of Boise, Tiffany Freeman, of Baker City, OR, Emily (Daniel) Stone, of Twin Falls, and Pete McMullin, of Twin Falls; nine great-grandchildren, Aiden, Lacy, Blake, Anthony, Taylor, Ana, Kyla, Gwendolyn, Talon, and Daniel. Bill also had many nephews and nieces he loved and kept in contact with.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Irene Freeman; five brothers, Oral (Faye), Orlin (Vada), Garland (Eleanor), R.B. (Verla), Chuck; and four sisters, Cleta (Roy) Strickland, Lois (Morris) Neilsen, Pat Edwards and Ruby Freeman.
The family would like to thank all the physicians, nurses, and therapists that helped Bill fight his way home.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at 1:00p.m., Monday, November 21, 2016 at Sunset Memorial Park, Twin Falls.
Services are under the care and direction of Heidi Heil and Serenity Funeral Chapel Life Celebration Center & Cremation Services of Idaho, Twin Falls.
Bill was born Sept. 15, 1931 in Somerton, Arizona. He was the youngest of ten children born to Charles and Irene Freeman. Bill spent the majority of his childhood growing up on a farm and graduated from high school in Wendell, ID.
At 16, Bill lied about his age and joined the National Guard. Bill then joined the Navy at 17 and was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Valley Forge just before and during the Korean War. While Bill was in the Navy his family moved to Viola, AR.
Bill was discharged from the Navy and hitch-hiked to Arkansas to be with his family. Unable to find a job there, Bill joined the Air Force Reserve and applied for active duty in order to keep his Navy rank. He was stationed in Shreveport, LA.
During that time, Bill hitchhiked home to Arkansas on weekends to rodeo with his brothers. They were professional cowboys and got paid $5 a head to ride bareback broncs and bulls.
Bill met his future bride, Mary Laureta Owens, in a small café in Salem, AR. Bill’s father died so his Mom and brother decided to move back to Idaho. The Air Force was doing an early release program at the time so Bill got out of the service and moved back to Wendell to help his Mom and brother.
After service in the Armed Forces, Bill worked at a grain elevator in Wendell, the fall harvest in Washington, at a Sawmill in Oregon, and then settled in Kimberly, ID as a State Brand Inspector. Bill moved his family to Twin Falls, ID and took a job as a Federal Animal Health Inspector.
Bill’s musical skills were self-taught, yet he became a professional musician playing in several local bands; Ray Crumbliss and the Saints, The Misfits, The Walden Brothers, The Hits and Misses, and the McBride Brothers. The Saints also served as the house band at Cactus Pete’s in Jackpot, NV for traveling stars. He played with Roy Clark of Hee-Haw fame, Joe and Rose Lee Maphis, Sue Thompson, and Henry Sharpe of Bakersfield.
Bill’s hobbies were many. He raised “roller” pigeons, rode dirt bikes, flew model airplanes, and loved bowling, acquiring many friends along the way.
Bill is survived by his wife, Laureta; two children, Candy and Doug (Cheri) Freeman; six grandchildren, Cassie (Jeremy) Nesset, of Lewiston, Cody Freeman, of Twin Falls, Nick McMullin, of Boise, Tiffany Freeman, of Baker City, OR, Emily (Daniel) Stone, of Twin Falls, and Pete McMullin, of Twin Falls; nine great-grandchildren, Aiden, Lacy, Blake, Anthony, Taylor, Ana, Kyla, Gwendolyn, Talon, and Daniel. Bill also had many nephews and nieces he loved and kept in contact with.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Irene Freeman; five brothers, Oral (Faye), Orlin (Vada), Garland (Eleanor), R.B. (Verla), Chuck; and four sisters, Cleta (Roy) Strickland, Lois (Morris) Neilsen, Pat Edwards and Ruby Freeman.
The family would like to thank all the physicians, nurses, and therapists that helped Bill fight his way home.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at 1:00p.m., Monday, November 21, 2016 at Sunset Memorial Park, Twin Falls.
Services are under the care and direction of Heidi Heil and Serenity Funeral Chapel Life Celebration Center & Cremation Services of Idaho, Twin Falls.
Billie Wayne Freeman, 85, of Twin Falls, died Monday, November 14, 2016 at home.
Bill was born Sept. 15, 1931 in Somerton, Arizona. He was the youngest of ten children born to Charles and Irene Freeman. Bill spent the majority of his childhood growing up on a farm and graduated from high school in Wendell, ID.
At 16, Bill lied about his age and joined the National Guard. Bill then joined the Navy at 17 and was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Valley Forge just before and during the Korean War. While Bill was in the Navy his family moved to Viola, AR.
Bill was discharged from the Navy and hitch-hiked to Arkansas to be with his family. Unable to find a job there, Bill joined the Air Force Reserve and applied for active duty in order to keep his Navy rank. He was stationed in Shreveport, LA.
During that time, Bill hitchhiked home to Arkansas on weekends to rodeo with his brothers. They were professional cowboys and got paid $5 a head to ride bareback broncs and bulls.
Bill met his future bride, Mary Laureta Owens, in a small café in Salem, AR. Bill’s father died so his Mom and brother decided to move back to Idaho. The Air Force was doing an early release program at the time so Bill got out of the service and moved back to Wendell to help his Mom and brother.
After service in the Armed Forces, Bill worked at a grain elevator in Wendell, the fall harvest in Washington, at a Sawmill in Oregon, and then settled in Kimberly, ID as a State Brand Inspector. Bill moved his family to Twin Falls, ID and took a job as a Federal Animal Health Inspector.
Bill’s musical skills were self-taught, yet he became a professional musician playing in several local bands; Ray Crumbliss and the Saints, The Misfits, The Walden Brothers, The Hits and Misses, and the McBride Brothers. The Saints also served as the house band at Cactus Pete’s in Jackpot, NV for traveling stars. He played with Roy Clark of Hee-Haw fame, Joe and Rose Lee Maphis, Sue Thompson, and Henry Sharpe of Bakersfield.
Bill’s hobbies were many. He raised “roller” pigeons, rode dirt bikes, flew model airplanes, and loved bowling, acquiring many friends along the way.
Bill is survived by his wife, Laureta; two children, Candy and Doug (Cheri) Freeman; six grandchildren, Cassie (Jeremy) Nesset, of Lewiston, Cody Freeman, of Twin Falls, Nick McMullin, of Boise, Tiffany Freeman, of Baker City, OR, Emily (Daniel) Stone, of Twin Falls, and Pete McMullin, of Twin Falls; nine great-grandchildren, Aiden, Lacy, Blake, Anthony, Taylor, Ana, Kyla, Gwendolyn, Talon, and Daniel. Bill also had many nephews and nieces he loved and kept in contact with.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Irene Freeman; five brothers, Oral (Faye), Orlin (Vada), Garland (Eleanor), R.B. (Verla), Chuck; and four sisters, Cleta (Roy) Strickland, Lois (Morris) Neilsen, Pat Edwards and Ruby Freeman.
The family would like to thank all the physicians, nurses, and therapists that helped Bill fight his way home.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at 1:00p.m., Monday, November 21, 2016 at Sunset Memorial Park, Twin Falls.
Services are under the care and direction of Heidi Heil and Serenity Funeral Chapel Life Celebration Center & Cremation Services of Idaho, Twin Falls.
Bill was born Sept. 15, 1931 in Somerton, Arizona. He was the youngest of ten children born to Charles and Irene Freeman. Bill spent the majority of his childhood growing up on a farm and graduated from high school in Wendell, ID.
At 16, Bill lied about his age and joined the National Guard. Bill then joined the Navy at 17 and was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Valley Forge just before and during the Korean War. While Bill was in the Navy his family moved to Viola, AR.
Bill was discharged from the Navy and hitch-hiked to Arkansas to be with his family. Unable to find a job there, Bill joined the Air Force Reserve and applied for active duty in order to keep his Navy rank. He was stationed in Shreveport, LA.
During that time, Bill hitchhiked home to Arkansas on weekends to rodeo with his brothers. They were professional cowboys and got paid $5 a head to ride bareback broncs and bulls.
Bill met his future bride, Mary Laureta Owens, in a small café in Salem, AR. Bill’s father died so his Mom and brother decided to move back to Idaho. The Air Force was doing an early release program at the time so Bill got out of the service and moved back to Wendell to help his Mom and brother.
After service in the Armed Forces, Bill worked at a grain elevator in Wendell, the fall harvest in Washington, at a Sawmill in Oregon, and then settled in Kimberly, ID as a State Brand Inspector. Bill moved his family to Twin Falls, ID and took a job as a Federal Animal Health Inspector.
Bill’s musical skills were self-taught, yet he became a professional musician playing in several local bands; Ray Crumbliss and the Saints, The Misfits, The Walden Brothers, The Hits and Misses, and the McBride Brothers. The Saints also served as the house band at Cactus Pete’s in Jackpot, NV for traveling stars. He played with Roy Clark of Hee-Haw fame, Joe and Rose Lee Maphis, Sue Thompson, and Henry Sharpe of Bakersfield.
Bill’s hobbies were many. He raised “roller” pigeons, rode dirt bikes, flew model airplanes, and loved bowling, acquiring many friends along the way.
Bill is survived by his wife, Laureta; two children, Candy and Doug (Cheri) Freeman; six grandchildren, Cassie (Jeremy) Nesset, of Lewiston, Cody Freeman, of Twin Falls, Nick McMullin, of Boise, Tiffany Freeman, of Baker City, OR, Emily (Daniel) Stone, of Twin Falls, and Pete McMullin, of Twin Falls; nine great-grandchildren, Aiden, Lacy, Blake, Anthony, Taylor, Ana, Kyla, Gwendolyn, Talon, and Daniel. Bill also had many nephews and nieces he loved and kept in contact with.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Irene Freeman; five brothers, Oral (Faye), Orlin (Vada), Garland (Eleanor), R.B. (Verla), Chuck; and four sisters, Cleta (Roy) Strickland, Lois (Morris) Neilsen, Pat Edwards and Ruby Freeman.
The family would like to thank all the physicians, nurses, and therapists that helped Bill fight his way home.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at 1:00p.m., Monday, November 21, 2016 at Sunset Memorial Park, Twin Falls.
Services are under the care and direction of Heidi Heil and Serenity Funeral Chapel Life Celebration Center & Cremation Services of Idaho, Twin Falls.
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