Marion Merseburger Freeman

She was devoted to her family, her church, her state, and her country -- and her spirit of adventure and thirst for knowledge knew no bounds. She was born on the 28th of December 1927, in Shiner, Texas, the only child of Alfred and Caroline Merseburger.

Marion was preceded in death in 2004 by her beloved husband of 49 years, J. H. Freeman. She is survived by her three children, Caroline Ann Freeman, Marion Lucinda (Cindy) Freeman, and Robert Jay Freeman and his wife Henrietta, and granddaughters Miranda and Nina; and nieces and nephews.

Marion was a member of First Methodist Church, Houston, for over ninety years. Though living in Houston from the age of two, she spent many happy hours over her lifetime in Shiner with her late cousin, Dr. A.A. Darilek, Jr. – ‘Doc’. Marion earned her M.A. in History from The Rice Institute (now Rice University) in 1950 writing her thesis on the political history of Houston during Reconstruction. She was an inveterate and energetic traveler – from her college bicycle trip through Europe to her trip in 2005 at age 77 to Okinawa for the 60th anniversary of that World War II battle – where her beloved late husband had fought – with many adventures in between – especially frequent summer visits with J.H. to Salzburg, Austria.

Marion was proud of her German and Czech heritage dating from the Republic of Texas and pursued genealogy enthusiastically; she was a member of the Czech Center Museum Houston. She was also passionately interested in the arts – particularly classical music – and was a supporter of Houston Grand Opera, Music in Context, and Houston Ballet.

Marion was active for many years in the Blue Bird Circle – in Arts and Crafts and volunteering countless hours to their clinic for pediatric neurology at Texas Children’s Hospital. More recently, she shared her spirit of generosity and caring with her needlepoint refrigerator magnet projects – including making over 800 American flags for the students at her Southgate neighborhood school, Roberts Elementary. Marion was a dedicated Christian and truly kind, gentle, and generous lady, loved and respected by those who were privileged to know and love her.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Marion during a reception at nine o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 4th of February 2023, in the foyer of First Methodist Church Downtown, where the memorial service is to commence at ten o’clock in the sanctuary officiated by Pastor Ann Spears.

The family will gather for a private interment at Shiner City Cemetery in Shiner, Texas.

In lieu of customary remembrances, please consider donations in honor of Marion to First Methodist Houston, Attn: Finance Office, 1320 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002 - https://www.fmhouston.com/give/); to Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Development Department, P.O. Box 110, Mount Vernon, VA 22121 - https://www.mountvernon.org/donate/); to San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield Association, 1 Monument Circle, LaPorte, TX 77571 - https://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/Support_Us/Donate/); or the charity of one’s choice.

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