Decatur – Lora Lucille Elam Freeze, 87, of Decatur passed away at 12:15 a.m., Sunday, May 22, 2011 at the Eberhardt Village Nursing Home where she had been living for the past 4 years and 7 months. She missed her 88th birthday by 39 days.
A celebration of Lora’s life will be at 12:00 Noon, Wednesday, May 25, 2011 in Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, Mt. Zion. Burial will be in Point Pleasant Cemetery, Long Creek. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. till service time at the funeral home. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com. Memorials may be made to her family.
Lora was born June 30, 1923 in Vandalia, IL the daughter of Marquis Andrew and Stella (Stepp) Elam. She married David O. Freeze Sr. on July 5, 1941. He preceded her in death on July 9, 1993. She was retired from Decatur Public School District #61 after 30 years, as a school bus driver, Bus #63.
She is survived by her children: Paula Jo Hyde of Tuscola; David O. Freeze Jr. of Bakersfield, CA, Charles Wayne Freeze, Robert Lee Freeze Sr., and Kenneth Lynn Freeze Sr. all of Decatur; foster parent to: Sue Gilbert of Virginia, Lucretia Coleman of Anaheim, CA, and Leland Schaefer of Centralia, IL; brothers: Robert Elam of Streator, Donald Elam of Vandalia; sister: Margaret Matthews of West Palm Beach, FL; also surviving are thirteen grandchildren, four step grandsons, eighteen great-grandchildren, eight foster grandchildren; four foster great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, two sisters: Francis Brown and Pauline Davis, and her brother Loren Elam.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks to all the staff of the Arthur Home and hospice for all that they have done to care for Lora.
Custom Obituary
Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home of Mt. Zion
“A Life Celebration Home”
| Nancy Bullock |
Friend |
May 25, 2011 |
Sorry to hear about the passing of Lora. She was my daughter's bus driver for many years. She was a wonderful woman and my child, Toni, loved her and has not forgotten her. I never worried about sending Toni off to school with Lora. Our prayers are with you all.
| Debbie Cassell |
Friend of Lora's |
May 25, 2011 |
I met Lora when she drove a school bus for my children. It's now a funny memory, my oldest was acting up on the bus and she honked her horn for me to come out so she could tell me about it. I started crying and she immediately was compassionate. We really enjoyed each other's friendship throughtout my children's years at French Academy. I had security knowing my children were in safe hands on bus 63 with Lora. We exchanged Christmas cards for years afterwords. She was a wonderful person. Have peace knowing that she is walking the streets of gold with our Lord.
