Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Grenada for Mr. Donald Gene Freely, 81, of Grenada, who went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, Aug. 12. Burial will follow in Alva-Parker Cemetery. Dr. Brent Barker, the Rev. Eugene Heimbach and the Rev. J. Barry Worrell will officiate.
Donald was born on March 17, 1941, in Vardaman, the son of Malcolm and Clytee Vanlandingham Freely. He graduated from Vardaman High School in 1959. He married Joan on Sept. 4, 1959. He was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. He was employed at McQuay/Heatcraft for 46 years.
Donald enjoyed attending church, being with family and friends, and shooting trap. He was the Mississippi State Shoot Sr. Veteran Champion, the Short Yardage Champion at the Pontotoc and Starkville Gun Clubs, and the Mississippi State Shoot Singles Class A Champion to name a few. Donald will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
In addition to his parents, his brothers, Van Earl Freely and Scott Freely, preceded Donald in death.
Survivors include, his wife of 62 years, Joan Freely; son, Michael Freely (Jo Anna) of Starkville; daughter, Stephanie Case (Duane) of Hernando; grandchildren, Cali Sims, Cole Freely, Colby Freely, Keegan Case and Cory Freely; great grandchildren, David Sims, Isabella Sims, Kylan Sims and Amelia Sims and a host of other loved ones.
Pallbearers will be Michael Cox, Don Gober, Robert Hicks, Don Thomas, Barney Wade and Mike Wade.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to Gideons International or the Emmanuel Baptist Church Building Fund.
Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com
McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada is in charge of arrangements.
