Barbara Freeman

Barbara Claire (Horning) Freeman, a native Mainer known by friends and family members for her brisk practicality and no-nonsense attention to detail in her work, died January 9 at Celebration Hospital in Celebration, FL, with her family close at hand. She was 81. Born November 18, 1934, in Portsmouth, NH, Mrs. Freeman was the daughter of the late Verna Rose (Roberts) Horning and Rufus Jonathan Horning. She grew up in Kittery, Maine, and attended Traip Academy. Mrs. Freeman, who vacationed in Florida for many years and moved there in 2003, had many friends in Maine and Florida. An embodiment of the down-to-Earth and resilient Maine character, she spoke her mind forthrightly and remained loyal to family and lifelong friends. She outlived three husbands and a daughter, Vanessa Marie Lampman, who died at age 9. Mrs. Freeman worked for many years a housekeeper for several families in York, Cape Neddick, and Kittery, Maine; her high standards in her work were unflagging. She was a bookkeeper by profession, and after retiring she volunteered her time as secretary/bookkeeper of the Pine Lake Villas and also the Home and Community Educators, Pine Lake Division, keeping precise records for those organizations until her last illness. She loved to play cards every Saturday with a large group of friends. She always participated in tea parties and other events. She was a very sociable person, and always was ready to help anyone. Mrs. Freeman looked forward to dinner with her son in the evening. She also loved to go to brunch and dinner with her daughter-in-law. The two loved to shop and spent a lot of time with each other. Mrs. Freeman loved the beach and enjoyed going to the lakefront to walk her dog. She loved her family and told them so often. Her many friends were a constant source of support for her and her family near the end of her life. She was a member of the York Street Baptist Church in York, Maine, for many years, and she attended the Bible Baptist Church in Kissimmee, FL. She is survived by a daughter, Brenda F. Sawyer, of RI; a son, Brian J. Lampman, of St. Cloud, FL; a son-in-law, David N. Sawyer, of RI; a daughter-in-law, Eileen Lampman of FL; a maternal aunt, Nell Haley, of NH; grandsons, Benjamin and Zachary Sawyer, granddaughter-in-law, Stephanie Sawyer, and great-grand-daughter, Madeline Sawyer, all of RI; granddaughters Tamera Tyrell and Nicole Lampman; step grandchildren Melissa Lopez, Raymond Lopez, Nelson Lopez, and Joshua Puryear; great grandchildren, Jadeon Vega, Sage Vega, Dane Tyrrell, Jacinda Tyrrell, Lucas Lampman; step great grandchildren, Yesenia Benetiz, Lotus Pabey, Xavier Pabey, Jonathan Lopez. She is predeceased by her husband, Gordon Valentine Freeman. Visiting will be at Osceola Memory Gardens, 2000 13th Street, St. Cloud, on January 23 from 1 to 5 p.m., with a short service from 3 to 3:30 p.m. led by the pastor of Bible Baptist Church. Information at www.OsceolaMemGds.com. There will be a small family service in Maine at a date to be determined later. The family welcomes donations to St. Jude in Mrs. Freeman’s name.

Barbara Freeman

November 18, 1934 - January 9, 2016