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Roger Freeman
Roger Edward Freeman, a member of the Norman High School class of 1966, was born January 22, 1948, in Oklahoma City to Lloyd and Helen (White) Freeman. He entered the U.S. Army Reserve in 1966 where he served for the next six years. He married his high school sweetheart, Cynthia Turner Kennedy, on June 27, 1970.
Roger could sell anything to anyone, beginning with shoes in high school to car sales at Adams Chevrolet. His successful career in the auto conversion business took him all over the Unites States, where he developed life-long friends and colleagues.
As a child Roger's family always had a boat and often camped at Lake Thunderbird, where his love of boating began. Rogers' parents purchased a house at Lake Texoma in 1983 at Soldier Creek Marina where he happily retired in 2017.
Roger was an avid sports fan and loved watching Oklahoma Sooners, Dallas Cowboys and Nascar racing.
Roger was our hero and the best of men. Our lives as a family moving forward will never be the same. We will miss his daily phone calls, to check in and offer his sage advice. He was admired and loved by many.
Roger was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in June 2017 and fought this rare lung disease to the end.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Roger is survived by his wife; Cindy, sons Turner, Casey and his wife Morgin; sister Becky Freeman Burton and husband Paul and nephew Chris; and many relatives, friends and coworkers.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611.
Private family services. Services will be under the direction of Watts Funeral Home, Madill, Oklahoma. Condolences may be sent to wattsfuneralhome.com.
To send flowers to the family of Roger Edward Freeman, please visit Tribute Store.
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Carol Hickman (Haynes)
My heart is very sad at learning of Roger’s passing. Roger was a good lifelong friend and my first dance partner at the ripe age of four! We also grew up in First Christian Church together from birth all the way through high school. Roger was not only a good friend to many but an all around good man. Norman High School Class of 1966 will miss him so much!
Rest In Peace Roger,
Carol Hickman Haynes
David Walters
Roger and I became friends shortly after my Dad moved us to Norman and I began 9th grade at CJHS. My Dad went to work at the Post Office and became fast friends with Roger's Dad. It was natural that Roger and I developed a friendship that has lasted throughout our lives. Through high school we could always find some way to get ourselves into trouble. Roger married the daughter of one of the finest men I have ever had the opportunity too work for, Sed Kennedy, owner of Across the Street. I have always thought of Roger and Cindy as family. Roger you will be sorely missed by many. Rest in peace my old friend.
Jim Sandefer
Roger and I had been friends since junior high school and his passing is very saddening.
But we have to focus on the good times we had over the years, and these included Cindy.
May he rest in peace knowing this his family and friends will always remember him in a positive way.
Ron Zerby
Roger my friend may you rest in the hands of our Lord. Knew you and Mr. and Mrs. Freeman were strong Christians as we served together in church, school and life. Fellow classmates please keep your life close to your Lord and God as only He knows the number of our days. We once were young, thin and eager for life. Now we are the example for those coming behind us. Roger and I had a lot of great times in basketball and motorcycles. I know something only he and I know about that had to do with a motorcycle wreck. All was well after a little fixing up. Pray for his family to remember the good times and values I know Roger set about his whole life.
Ron Z.
Rich Eubanks
Roger and I were friends from the 3rd grade when my family moved to Norman. We've gone to school together and worked together and there just wasn't a much finer friend, and man in general, as Roger, I regret that my moving from Norman meant that I would go this many years without seeing him. Oh, and David Walters, I totally agree about Cindy's dad, Sed, being a great boss and friend.
David Harper
When I see that a new member has been added to the in memory section on my email, it is always a bit stressful to see who has passed. I've grown to adjust by thinking that we are all older, now, and that it is a less painful loss at 71 than it is at 30. Even so, when I saw that it was Roger, it, "stung" is the word that just entered my mind, and then I went straight to two memories that capture Roger to me. One is generic. There was a group of us who played tackle football almost everyday after school at Lions' Park. Roger was usually there, along with Ken Vermillion, or David Payte. I think of those two when I think of Roger at Lions' Park. What a good group that was. OK, this is Roger's post, but I'm going to mention a few others, some who have gone before Roger, and others who I know will miss him, too: Glen Veal, Jimmy Shaw, Danny Shaw, David Jicha, Brian Goodman, Lester Paul Wilkinson, Mike Cloud, Bobby Wade, Danny Wood, Tim Day, Les Crabtree, Chris Crabtree, John Gill, Tommy Thomas, Larry Bloomer, Tommy Eicholz, Blaine and Billy Reed. These were all pretty regular, and there were others who dropped in on occasion. But, this was a group who spent more than a little time together. Just regular Norman kids......... My second memory is more specific to Roger. And, it shows very clearly what a good man he was. I was having some difficult times, financially, and my car bit the dust. So, I had to get it fixed or buy a new one. Neither was a good option. So I went to see Roger at Adam's Chevrolet. Roger was the General Manager and John Schultz was the Sales Manager. Roger called John into his office and we caught up on old times for awhile, and then I explained that I needed the cheapest car on the lot, with no whistles and no bells. Roger told John to show me a sedan and a utility Chevy S-10. John did and I decided on the S-10. I, again, explained that I didn't want anything on it in the way of extras. John reassured me that the S-10 was bare-bones and that it came with an AM radio. We agreed and shook hands. John told me that it would be ready for me to pick up the next day. When I went to get the truck, I thanked Roger and John for helping me out. After Roger was gone, John looked at me and said, "He sold that to you at cost. We didn't make a penny on it." My story must have been even sadder than I realzied, because, I would never have expected for them to sell it to me at dealers' cost. When John and I got to the truck, I got in and noticed that the AM radio had changed and was now an AM/FM stereo. I pointed that out to John, and said, "John, I told you that I didn't want any extras." John smiled at me and said, "Don't worry, you weren't charged for that. Roger just couldn't see you not even having an FM radio. He added that at no charge." So, high school and junior high friends...Lions' Park.... And, I drove home in a new truck that I had paid less for than the dealer did. Thanks, Roger. Thanks, John. What a good man........... My sincerest regards to Roger's family and to his many friends.