Wake for Ann James Freelander

From George Flynn:

The family of Ann James Freelander invites all her friends and former co-workers to a celebration of her life.

This wake will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, at the Stag's Head Pub, 2128 Portsmouth (713-533-1199).

It will be held in the pub's Oak Room, which is a separate room to the far left as you enter the pub. The Stag's Head is at the corner of Portsmouth and South Sandman in the Shepherd Plaza Center, which is just south of Richmond between Shepherd and Greenbriar. (It is the same pub where the wake was held for Doug Freelander.)

There will be complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. For more information, you can call Ann's daughter, Sherrill Montgomery, at 1-936-520-9989.

This will be the only gathering for Ann; we hope everyone can attend....

Thanks

Judy King's obituary

From Fred:

Judith (Judy) Louise Croom King, born October 25, 1945, and born again in the fall of 1972, entered the presence of her Lord Jesus Christ on Oct. 21. Her husband and son were at her side.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Pitser Blalock and Fletcher Metcalfe Croom and brother, Hunter Metcalfe Croom. Survived by husband, Fred King; children: Thomas Blalock & Anna Lee King and Sarah Elizabeth & Christian Duncan Farmer; grandchildren: Juliette Louise King, Robert Thomas King, Victor Alexander Farmer, Anastasia Alexandra Farmer, Dennis Duncan Farmer, Dima Thomas Farmer, and Anya Elizabeth Farmer; great-grandson, Nickles Grande Farmer; sister and brother-in-law, Emily Anne Croom and Robert Shelby.

Also surviving are an aunt, Mary Katherine Earney; and Fred's siblings and their spouses, Audrey VanDemark, Mary and Dan Posey, Tim and Peggy King, Terry King, Alan and Janet King, and Tyra King; and cousins, nieces and nephews.

Judy and her Bellaire High School sweetheart, Fred, had their first date in November 1962. Judy was co-valedictorian of their class, 1963.

She earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree with special honors in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin in 1967.

Judy and Fred married July 1, 1967.

Judy was the author of six published books, including The Greatest Gift Guide Ever and Breast Cancer Answers. She finished the second edition of Breast Cancer Answers just weeks ago as that disease ravaged her body. The books were delivered Oct. 18 and she got to hold one. The book became her ministry to women fighting the disease and the effects of the treatments.

She owned Judy King Editorial Services, helping scores of authors present their ideas clearly in good English, and was president and founder of www.GivingCenter.com.

Judy was a Girl Scout leader for many years, and five members of her troop earned the Gold Award. When her health permitted, she was a leader in the churches she and Fred attended and a Sunday school teacher.

Despite her great academic, community and professional success, what Judy loved most was spending time with her family. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother and an eager, humble servant of the Lord.

A memorial service for Judy King will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Tallowood Center, 10405 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024. (That's on the eastbound service road, just inside Beltway 8.) A reception for family and friends will be held there immediately afterward. Care for children age 5 and under will be provided.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to a charity serving Russian orphans, HOPES from the Father, 906 Shadberry Drive, Magnolia, TX 77354; or the Angel Tree project of Prison Fellowship, PO Box 1550, Merrifield, VA 22116-1550.

In the Kings' 1999 Christmas letter, sent just weeks after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Judy wrote, "Friends have provided such wonderful support - and earnest prayers. God is sustaining us, and we know His timing is perfect ."

Ann James Freelander died today

Everyone --

Ann James Freelander died this morning from liver complications, at her home in Conroe. Her daughter Sherrill is overseeing things and can be reached at 936-756-7436 if needed.

Ann's wish was to be cremated. There will be a memorial wake in Houston in the near future. Details will follow when those are worked out.

-- George Flynn

Addendum: Houston Chronicle story

Judy King died this morning

From Fred:

A child of God who also was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend is home. Judy died this morning about 5:35.

Tom and I were with her. She had been discharged from Memorial City about 7:15 p.m. Friday and was brought to our house by ambulance. About midnight, as Tom and Anna talked to her, she smiled and her eyes focused and she nodded appropriately. That was the only response from her from about 6 p.m. Friday until she died.

Never any indication of pain although her breathing was very difficult.

We expected to have several more days, even weeks with her, based on what her oncologist told me Wednesday or Thursday. But, most important, Judy had great visits with all her children and grandchildren this past week. I know that was a great answer to the prayers of many of you. We have been loved and supported so much through this. Judy was buoyed by that.

She will be cremated, per her wishes. There will be no private service.

Fairly solid plans are for having a memorial service about 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Tallowood Center, Attingham at Katy Freeway. That's a long block inside the West Belt. (It's a shopping center our church bought. The part nearest the freeway service road is a restaurant called 59 Diner.)

No flowers. She had some suggestions about memorials if you're inclined. Details later.

Will let you know final plans later.

It would make my life a bit simpler if you sent any replies -- although none is necessary -- to fredking@pdq.net.

Ann James Freelander seriously ill

Everyone --

The family of former longtime Post writer Ann James Freelander reports that she is in very bad health and may not recover. She had gall bladder surgery recently and was re-hospitalized from complications of that and a failing liver.

She is under heavy medication, and under in-home medical and hospice care. Her daughter Sherrill says she has been drifting in and out of consciousness since last night -- doctors do not know if she will be able to recover. Sherrill will be back early afternoon today and will accept any calls on Ann's behalf.

Ann's phone number is 936-756-7436; her address is 3109 Wilson Rd., Conroe TX, 77304.

Ann is the widow of former city editor Doug Freelander. As everyone who knows her quickly came to realize, Ann could be a cantankerous, ornery tiger at times -- as well as a full-time, incredibly tender, loving, compassionate person who cared deeply about those in her life and work. She's showed her toughness, stamina, sheer will -- and selflessness -- in working major Post beats (and stories -- from the Frank Sharp Sharpstown scandal to the Dean Corll/Elmer Wayne Henley serial murders and so on) during the 1960s and 70s.

Please join us in praying that her unique kind of spirit can get her through the challenges of this ordeal. Her daughter Sherrill says she'll pass along the sentiments of those who want to call.

Thanks.

-- George Flynn

Tom Overton back at M.D. Anderson

Tom Overton of St. Thomas U. is back in MD Anderson.

His room phone is 713 834 8728.

Still has his sense of humor and says hisspine is compressed, not collapsed.

-- Fred
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: TOver62331@aol.com
Sent: Thu 10/12/2006 11:09 PM
To: King, Fred (DCO)
Subject: Tom Overton update

Hi, Fred,

Tom is back at MDAnderson since Monday afternoon. He has a collapsed spine
and the doctors have begun radiation and are possibly looking at surgery as
an option again as well.

He is doing great! He is in Purple 820. I never remember the room phone
number, but his cell is 713-906-7910. If he doesn't answer, he may be on
another call or in treatment. Please leave a number so he can call back.

We are not sure how long he will be at the hospital this time around. If
anyone chooses to email, I will get them to him.

All the best,
Judy Overton