James Hershall Freeman

James "Jack" Hershall Freeman died peacefully February 28, 2014, in Tyler, after a lifetime of faithful service to his family, his church, his community and his country. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, March 4th, 2:00 P.M. at Lloyd James Funeral Home Chapel on 1011 East First Street in Tyler. Visitation will be Sunday, March 2nd, from 3 - 5 p.m. also at Lloyd James Funeral Home.

Born January 1, 1921 in Breckenridge, Texas, to Ora Elizabeth Williams Freeman and Roscoe Albert Freeman, Jack was the third of five children, one of whom died at birth. Following the death of his father in 1927, his mother moved the family to Bosque County, Texas, where he attended schools in Union Hill and Kopperl. A talented athlete, Jack actively participated in sports, lettering in football, basketball, baseball and track and field and as a high school senior, held the county record in the 100, 220, and 440-yard and the one-mile run. Upon his graduation from Kopperl High School in 1938, he farmed and ranched in central Texas.

Jack married Annie Jo Allen, a Bosque County native, on June 11, 1941. They made their first home in Deming, New Mexico, where he had found employment with the Pepsi Cola Company earlier in 1940.

His service to his country began while living in New Mexico where he became an active member of the New Mexico State Guard and subsequently enlisted in the United States Navy at the outbreak of World War II in1942. His assignment to the Third Construction Battalion, a Navy combat engineering unit, took him to the Guadalcanal where he experienced a severe bout with malaria requiring an extended stay in the naval hospital in New Zealand. Following this illness, he was assigned to elements of the Second Marine Division for thirty continuous months. Even though he had experienced regular Japanese bombardment on Guadalcanal, his baptism by fire came with the amphibious assault of bloody Tarawa in November, 1943. Casualties at Tarawa were proportionately the heaviest in U.S. history. He went on to participate in other crucial landings at Saipan and Tinian. Following his military service in World War II, he returned to Fort Worth and attended Texas State Technical College for a short time.

Jack and Anne soon moved their family to Houston where he secured employment with Schlumberger Well Services. In his 33 years with Schlumberger, he advanced from being a lineman in the machine shop to manager of special services. Those with whom he worked recognized his ingenuity and leadership skills, appreciated his diligence and strong work ethic making significant contributions to the company. He pursued his education at the University of Houston and training through specialized industry-focused seminars. Upon his retirement in 1981, Jack continued with Schlumberger as an independent consultant.

His faithful devotion to Christ was evident in the hours he dedicated to his church for over 50 years as a lay-preacher, teacher/director of Sunday school and deacon, serving numerous times as chairman. Upon his death he was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife of more than 68 years, Annie Jo Freeman, a daughter, Elizabeth Suzanne, and his brother, Horace A. Freeman of Burleson. He is survived by three sons; James Roscoe (Jim) Freeman and wife, Barbara, of Tyler, William Daniel (Bill) Freeman and wife, Ellene, of Palestine, David Jack Freeman and wife, Evelyn, of Dallas, as well as seven grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Dr. Ray Winston Freeman of Hale Center, Texas and Ross E. Freeman of Midland.