Freda was born November 13, 1925 in McPherson, KS to Harold Frederick Aurell and Mildred (Westbrook) Aurell.
Freda and Fred married in 1945 and lived first in Great Bend, Kansas then settled in Cushing, OK where they raised their family. Freda went back to college when her children did, earning her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate in Psychology from Oklahoma State University. Widowed at age 54, she pursued a successful career in clinical psychology at the Child Study Center of the OU Med Center.
Family-centered, courageous, adventurous, and fun-loving, Freda built a life around family, friends, colleagues and her church family where for many years she trained Stephen Ministers and was a leader in that ministry. She is also credited for being the catalyst for the expansion of the Presbyterian Cursillo movement from SC to OK where, renamed “Pilgrimage,” it has expanded exponentially throughout OK and surrounding states. In addition, she was an avid tennis player, a docent at the Cowboy Hall of Fame, a Great Books book club member, and world traveler.
Freda was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Alfred (Fred) and son, Bradley as well as her siblings, Phoebe, Bud, and Nancy. She is survived by daughters, Pam (Robert) Dickson of Charleston, SC; Judy (Mark) Phelps of Seminole, OK; 7 granddaughters: Evy (Chris) Silcox, Polly Dickson, & MariElena (Joe) Raya all of Charleston, SC; Lauren (Brad) Schatzel of Seminole, OK; Lane (Jess) Royall of Venice, CA; Liz (Cameron) Cannon of Denver, CO; and Sus (Chris) Kramer of Lawrence, KS; and 14 great-grandchildren. Although her family is dispersed throughout the US, Freda has been a very present and positive influence in all our lives, a participant in life’s milestones, and the source of inspiration for us to celebrate each moment.
Services will be held 2:00pm, Thursday, March 7, 2019 at First Presbyterian Church, Edmond. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her name to First Presbyterian Church, 1001 Rankin, Edmond, OK 73034 designated for Stephen Ministries or to “Pilgrimage” mailed to the same address.
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