of Batesville, AR
April 12, 1927 - August 4, 2019
Freeman Keith Mobley of Batesville, Arkansas died August 4 at his home of natural causes at the age of 92.
He was born in Redfield, Arkansas on April 12, 1927, the son of Freeman Francis Mobley and Wilma Moseley Mobley.
He graduated from Western Military Academy in Alton, Illinois, attended Baylor University and graduated from Arkansas College. He was an Army veteran serving in the occupation of Germany. In the late 1940's and 1950's he was a partner and manager of the Mobley Lumber Company. In 1960, he left the company and attended graduate school in anthropology at the University of Arkansas and later at the University of North Carolina. He was the director of the Durham Children's Museum in Durham, North Carolina, for ten years before returning to Arkansas. A lifelong historian, he made verbal recordings of World War II veterans, and later wrote what many consider the seminal account of the Civil War in this area; Making Sense of the Civil War in Batesville-Jacksonport and Northeast Arkansas 1861-1874 (winner of the Jefferson Davis Award for Civil War History).
He is predeceased by his parents and his wife, Aline Etheridge Mobley. Surviving him are two sons, Zachary Freeman Mobley (Lenora) and Mark George Mobley (Migdalys); one daughter, Gay Win Mobley (the late Bill Redmond); and three grandchildren, Ned Freeman Mobley, Amina Erica Mobley, and Alita Marie Mobley.
Graveside services will be held at Oaklawn Cemetery Friday, August 9, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. under the direction of Roller-Crouch Funeral Home of Batesville.
There will be no visitation.
Sign Guestbook
8 Condolence(s)
Mary Cullum Langlais
Saturday, August 7, 2021
Discovered through Ancestry, Freeman was my 1st Cousin through my father's side, William H.Cullum and his father, Emmett Hoyle Cullum, and his mother, Ella Moseley. Wish that I had gotten to know Freeman. My eldest son looks very much like him, it's uncanny the resemblance. So sorry for your loss.
Mona Kimbrough Daniels
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
I met Mr. Mobley when I was a freshmen in college. I was an artsy kid and he had an art gallery in Batesville. My mother and I had been arguing and the tension was brought into the store with us. I said something sharp to my mom, and Mr. Mobley corrected me! And we were friends from that point on.
I never knew any of my grandparents, so he was kind of like that to me, whether he knew it or not. He encouraged my creativity. He was always kind to me.
We stayed in contact all these years writing letters, talking on the phone from time to time. He sent me copies of the books he had written and I sent him photos of my art. He always asked how my mom was and loved to remind me what a brat I was the day we met.
It's rare that a friendship can span such a long time between two people of vastly different generations. I am thankful to have had that. I loved him like family.
I offer my condolences to his family and all of his friends, I know he had many. I feel so lucky to have known him.
Robert Ford, Jr.
Sunday, August 11, 2019
Freeman and I went to school together when we were young boys growing up in Batesville. We were friends for over 75 years. I extend my deepest sympathy to Freeman's family in your loss. Freeman was a good friend.
Sincerely,
Robert Ford, Jr.
Jim and Kay Longenbach
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Zach,Lenora, Gay, Mark, know this is a hard time. Will be thinking of all of you and keeping you in our prayers. â¤ï¸
Regina Weaver
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Zach and Lenora, and Ned...I am so sorry to read this today. This truly makes my soul ache. You know that I've been missing Freeman for a while, and now that hole is even larger. I'll be thinking of you every day...and will try to be there Friday.
Don & Becky Davis
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Our heartfelt condolences go out to you . May all the family know that we share your sorrow but rejoice for a life well lived. Don & Becky
Bill Estes & Family
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
So sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends.
Deborah Wyatt
Monday, August 5, 2019
So very sorry for your loss, Zach. Prayers for your family.