I, Shirley Gladys (Cross) Frieze, have lived a blessed life because of Jesus and what He did for me on a Saturday night in the summer of my 11th year. It has taken several years to fully appreciate the treasure that was given to me of the Lord. I was born December 28, 1936 … the first child of Norman Preston and Mary Gladys Bough Cross. Our first home was in the Wagoner community, southwest of Stockton, Mo in Cedar County. We eventually welcomed Norman Junior and Harold Franklin to complete our family. Our parents purchased a farm on Snag Creek in the Independence community, so my brothers and I attended the one room school there. I graduated May 1954 from Stockton High School and in the fall enrolled in the University of Missouri. My plan was to be a hospital dietician, but I became better acquainted with Keith Frieze while at university. He was home from Korea, studying on the G.I. Bill. I finished one year in Columbia and then we married. Keith Duane Frieze became my husband in a ceremony at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church on August 14, 1955. The Rev. Hugh Sperry and Rev. Wilburn Foster officiated. We made our home and had jobs in Springfield, MO. Keith was already an ordained minister and over the years, was pastor to several churches in Greeene, Henry, Polk, and Cedar counties. Our children and I went with him and from the time of our marriage, I considered him my pastor. I have respect and love for all of God’s preachers. Rev’s Lowell Martin and Opal Jeffreys, pastors when I was young, had a great influence on my life. We will enjoy eternity together. I have been a member of True Hope Missionary Baptist Church since the day it was organized, January 1956. I have a great love for this church family. Our home was blessed with four children to love: Philip Duane, Brent Allen, Donna Lynne, and Carol Beth. We enjoyed our six grandchildren: Philip Duane Frieze, Jr., David Allen Lemons, Jacob William Ellis, Eric Duane Ellis, Isabella LeAnne Frieze, and Adam Neal McCroskey. There are precious great-grandchildren too: Hunter Allen Lemons, Emily Grace Lemons, Furick Shay, and Elijah Nathaniel Ellis. I worked for Springfield R-12 School District Food Service for more than 25 years. They were a good group and I thank them for all the good years. My dear husband, Keith, preceded me in death March 12, 2006. Also my parents Preston and Mary, Keith’s parents, Cleo and Della, and his brother, Bill preceded me. I am survived by our children Phil and Kathy, grandson Philip, Brent and granddaughter, Isabella, Donna and Kevin and grandsons David and Hannah, Hunter and Emily, Carol and Joel and grandchildren Jacob and Tysha and Furick, Eric and Eli, and Adam. I have enjoyed the sweetest brothers a girl could have: Norman and Sharon and sons Jay and Jeff, Harold and Jan Cross and sons Neal and Kevin. As well as my Aunt Zora Ann Grubb of Stockton. Keith’s brother Kent and Sue and their family, and Dorothy Frieze and her family too. There are also many cousins and friends. God didn’t promise us days without pain, laughter without sorrow, or sun without rain. But He did promise us strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. Services will be held on Wednesday, May 23rd at 10:00 a.m. at Greenlawn Funeral Home North. Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 22nd from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Provide comfort for the family by planting a tree in memory of Shirley G. Frieze, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.