Freda R. Weddell (101) of Yale

Freda Ruth Weddell, age 101, of Yale, Illinois, passed away at 5:25 PM Thursday, December 3, 2020, at Heartland Nursing and Rehabilitation in Casey, Illinois.

Funeral services celebrating Freda’s life will be held at 12:00 PM (Noon) Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois, with Pastor Amy Jeffries officiating. Visitation will be held from 1 hour before the service. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Newton, Illinois. In loving memory of Freda, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The obituary can be viewed and condolences left by clicking here. The family request masks and social distance practices.  

Freda Ruth Shoemaker was born on October 28, 1919, in Olney, Illinois, the daughter of Harvey Lemuel Shoemaker, Sr. and Birdie Vera (Gillaspie) Shoemaker. She attended elementary school in Richland County and graduated from Olney Township High School in Olney, Illinois.Freda moved to Chicago, Illinois with her parents in 1939. She found employment at Sears Roebuck and Company on State and Van Buren in the Loop. She was a cashier in the lamp department, which included waiting on customers, wrapping, etc. She had a golden opportunity to attend Benson Business College while working in the bookkeeping department at the Sears offices on Holman Avenue, she mastered in comptometry, while attending the Chicago Business College.

Freda married Marion Claibourne Weddell on August 15, 1944, in Rockford, Illinois. They moved to Jasper County, Illinois in 1946, after Marion’s honorable discharge from the United States Army. They began to build their home near Yale, Illinois, raising their four children. She and Marion along with their three sons owned and operated Yale Farm Equipment – International Harvester Dealership in Yale, Illinois, from 1977 until 1995.    

Freda’s first priority has always been home and family. She worked outside the home at various times to help “fill the till”, but never as a career. Freda was a member of the Yale United Methodist Church for 22 years where they attended as a family. She served as a Sunday School teacher and church secretary. Freda has been an active member of the United Methodist Church for 71-years and a 49-year member of the United Methodist Women. She transferred her membership to the Grace United Methodist Church in Newton, Illinois in 1976. She served as President of the United Methodist Women in 1983, President of Wesleyan & Grace Circle, and also Secretary. She was always willing to serve others and her church. Freda received the UMW “Woman of the Year” award in 2005, for 14 years of service as Mission Chairperson.

Freda held offices in Yale PTO, Chairman of Benefit Suppers, 47-year member of Homemakers Extension Association (FCE), Grandville Unit, and also was a member of the Jasper County HEA Board, in which she held many offices. These included President of the HEA in Jasper County for three years; served on Jasper County program council, chosen by the Cooperative Extension Service; and had served on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees for seven years.

Freda was also the Worthy Matron, Order of Eastern Star, Eleanor Chapter in 1963, Areta Chapter #79 and the President of Past Matrons Club both of Casey, Illinois, and was a current member of Eastern Star Newton Chapter #497 in Newton. She was a 37- year member of GFWC/IFWC Newton Woman’s Club. She proudly served as President, secretary and as various other department chairs.

Freda is survived by her children - Marion Keith (Gail) Weddell of Yale, Illinois; Karrol David (Diane) Weddell of Yale, Illinois; Karl Andrew (Kathy) Weddell of Casey, Illinois and Gail (Gary) Lynn Ritz of Mt. Carmel, Illinois; Grandchildren - Lisa (Tony) McMorris, David (Tina) Weddell, Marion Douglas Weddell (Theresa Leohr), Sara (Cody) Beam and Shane M. Ritz; Great-Grandchildren - McKayla (Chad) Frutiger, Anna (Caleb) Hixon, Brock McMorris, Elizabeth Weddell, Brinlyn Beam and Kinlee Beam; Great-Great-Grandchildren – Harper Hixon and Baby Frutiger due in Spring 2021.

Freda was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings Veva V. Weiser, Harvey L. Shoemaker, Jr. and Kenneth G. Shoemaker.