of Marshall, AR

November 14, 1951 - December 16, 2016

Joel Elliot Freeman, born November 14, 1951 in Dallas, Texas, peacefully slipped away from the bonds of this earth on Friday, December 16th at his home in Marshall, AR. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 28th, 2016 at East Lawn Freewill Baptist Church in Marshall, followed by the spreading of his ashes on the property he called home for over 10 years.

Joel spent most of his childhood in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas, TX, where he attended Our Lady of Good Council and Blessed Sacrament Catholic Schools from the first through the sixth grades. He attended T.L. Marsalis Elementary school, Atwell Junior High School and Carter High School for grades 7-12. He had a love of the outdoors and all wildlife from early childhood, preferring to spend his time at Five Mile Creek hunting turtles and snakes, which he would proudly bring home to show his mother before releasing them back into the wild. Two of the most surprising catches he brought home were a juvenile road runner he chased up and down the steep banks of the creek, and a river otter. Joel had an ability to make a pet out of almost every animal he came into contact with, from armadillos, opossums, raccoons, dogs, cats and snakes, to even an alligator snapping turtle. He was always finding orphaned, injured or starving wildlife to nurse back to health before releasing. At the time of his death he had two opossums remaining, from a litter of seven, who still needed more human care. Joel always had a garden and would lovingly work the hardest of soils to produce a variety of fresh produce. This love of the land and farming came from his maternal grandparents who owned 200 acres in Dennard, AR, where he would spend a few summer vacations. He had a great love of fishing and spent countless hours fishing with some of his brothers and his son Tanner.

Joel is survived by his son Tanner and former spouse Merlene Freeman of Marshall, his son Jason, his loving mother, Ina E. Freeman of Garland, TX, along with brothers and sisters Ronald (Wanda), Mark (Carolyn), Marcia (Mike), Chris, Rochelle (Tom), Theresa (Randy), Reggie (John), Thaddeus (Jan), Angela (Bill) and Kevin (Gwen) and numerous nephews and nieces. Joel was preceded in death by his father, Richard W. Freeman.

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