Freda Madeline Ferrell, 91, Indianapolis, passed away on November 21, 2012. She was born October 18, 1921 to John and Hattie Livesay in Longacre, West Virginia and was raised in Chesapeake, West Virginia. Her father passed away when she was a child, and her uncle Arnold Pauley helped in her upbringing. Freda attended elementary and junior high school in Chesapeake, West Virginia and high school in East Bank, West Virginia. She married Herbert Ferrell from Joes Creek, West Virginia in 1939. During most of their married life, Herbert worked in the coal mines and Freda was a homemaker. When the last son went to school, Freda went to work at the local company store. She later she worked at Bluzzard's Restaurant and Blackie's Canary Cottage. In August 1963, Freda and Herbert moved to Indianapolis, IN. There Freda worked at Kresge's Department Store, Dales Department Store and K-Mart, from which she retired from full-time employment at the age of 62, and part-time employment at the age of 75. Freda was a beloved wife of 36 years to Herbert Lee Ferrell. Freda was a loving mother and grandmother who raised seven children and one grandchild. She was completely dedicated to her family. She is survived by her children Brenda Carol Allred (Harry A.), Donna Joann Stinnett (William D.), Rebecca Louise Jones (Troy B.), John Herbert Ferrell (Janet), Patricia Ann Stinnett (Douglas M.), Kenneth Lee Ferrell (Martha), Gary Arnold Ferrell (Anna) and Tammy Louise Jones,18 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great- grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 2:00 pm in Stevens Mortuary, 5520 W. 10TH ST. Indianapolis, with a visitation from 12 noon until service time. Entombment services will follow in Floral Park Cemetery, 425 North Holt Road, Indianapolis, In. Eulogy Freda Madeline Ferrell was born on October 18, 1921 to John and Hattie Livesay in Longacre, West Virginia and grew up in Chesapeake, West Virginia. She had four siblings: a sister, Ruby, (who also happened to marry a Ferrell), another sister, Thelma, and two brothers, Billy Gleason and Clifford King. As a child, Freda loved playing outdoors, especially softball and swimming. She actually swam in the Kanawha River along with her friends, including one of her best friends, Mable Wheatley (who happens to be the mother of one of her daughters-in-law). Freda's father, John Livesay, died when she was a child. Her mother's brother, Arnold Pauley, helped raise her and provide a good home as she attended elementary school in Chesapeake and, later, middle and high school at East Bank High School. Uncle Arnold owned a grocery store in town where Freda worked as a teenager. Not only did she gain essential experience, but she developed a work ethic that she carried throughout her life. She became known locally as a hard worker. Freda met her husband, Herbert Lee Ferrell, at a baseball game in East Bank. They were married in June, 1939. Herbert became a coal miner, and he and Freda had seven children in just eight years. (Busy, weren't they?) They had four girls (Brenda, Donna, Rebecca and Patricia) and three boys (John, Kenneth and Gary). She also raised an eighth child, Tammy, who became her main caregiver in her later years. Freda's family remained close to her throughout her life, so her story became our story, too. We lived in various locations in Cabin Creek, West Virginia. Our mother was like no other. She was a dedicated wife and mother. She took great care of us and loved us all so dearly, even to the end of her life. There was nothing that could come between Mom and her kids; we meant the world to her. Mom often had to make meals from practically nothing, but she kept us all clean and well nourished. People who knew Mom often commented on how clean she kept us kids and our home. As we were growing up, Dad preached at a church in United, West Virginia. We were at church nearly every Sunday during that time. Mom had a peace about her and a quiet faith that showed through her very being. She never made a display of her faith, but she and Dad gave us a spiritual foundation. She made sure we attended Vacation Bible School at our church and various other local churches for many years. Much later, after Pat was grown and married, her husband Mackie talked with Mom about her faith in the Lord. She acknowledged that she did believe and knew that she would go to heaven. During most winters, almost every morning, Mom woke early to restart the fireplaces that kept the house warm and often would go outside and down into the cellar to shovel coal into the furnace. I remember, if it was a particularly cold morning, she would collect our winter coats and cover each of us to keep us warm. When time for school came, she made sure we were up and dressed, well-fed and on time. She was very diligent about her kids' punctuality. Mom was always there for all of us kids, even though there were so many of us. She brought us up the same way that she lived her life: with love, support, caring for others, and so much more. She was always there to help a family member, friend, neighbor or anyone in need. It seemed like no one could keep up with our mom in terms of energy, endurance, stamina and hard work. Often, as a mother, Mom was challenged; but she always seemed to rise to the occasion. She made things work in her marriage, even when it looked like there was no solution in sight. There were many times when payday came around and there was no paycheck, but she somehow got us all though the week. I guess you could steal the words from Loretta Lynn's song, "Coal Miner's Daughter": "She washed our clothes on a washboard everyday, and you could see her fingers bleed. But to complain there was no need, as she always smiled in her understanding way." We all love you dearly, Mom, for your sacrifices and care as we grew up. Our mom didn't have much trouble with the kids going off to school, except with her youngest, and that's a story that I can tell you later. After that youngster started school, Mom went to work in the Company Store. According to her boss, Bud White, she was one of the best employees he had ever had. She had to fill grocery orders, which meant retrieving each and every item from a customer's list, bringing it to the counter, punching in the price on an adding machine, and then going back for more until the order was complete. This was hard work, and she was on her feet almost all the time. Because Mom had to work, we kids took on more domestic responsibilities. Mom's employment gave us a little more money, so that we could have some of the things we needed as we went through our school years. Mom also worked at the Blizzard Restaurant in Eskdale, West Virginia, and a placed calle Blackie's Canary Cottage, which was known for its secret barbeque recipe. She worked at each of these places and still managed to keep our home and family together. Mom and Dad moved from West Virginia to Indiana in August, 1963. Before leaving West Virginia, they became grandparents at a very early age. While in Indiana, they had many more grandchildren: 18, in fact. They eventually had 32 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren. Three of these great-grandchildren, Michael Christopher Ferrell, Alexis Marie Jones, and Matthew Pack are in heaven. One more great-grandchild, Gabriel Allen Jones will soon be born. Upon arriving in Indianapolis, Indiana, Mom started to work at Kresge's Department Store. Throughout the following years, she worked at two Kresge's stores, Dale's Department Store and a couple of K-Mart locations. She was a very hard worker, on her feet almost all of the time, but she never complained to her kids. Mom and Dad were married for 36 years before Dad died in an automobile accident. He and Mom had many good times in their life together. They enjoyed many of the same activities, such as dancing, visiting with family and friends, and just raising the family. One thing that Mom and Dad always agreed on was that they were both very proud of their children and grandchildren. Mom was always the first one to start buying gifts for her grandkids once she knew one was on the way. She would buy baby clothes, diapers, bottles, and anything that she knew would fill a need. This was mom's way of letting her family know she that she cared and that each one was loved. She even bought Christmas gifts for every child, spouse and grandchild—until we finally convinced her that, with the size of her family, the task was overwhelming and she needed to stop. She finally gave in, but not without a struggle. Giving gifts gave her great joy, and just knowing that she could do something for someone meant so much to her. We all knew that her love was the best gift that she could ever give, and we already had that. Mom attended almost every wedding, birthday celebration, shower and any other celebratory occasion. Not many mothers, grandmothers, or great-grandmothers can boast of such a record. The most recent wedding she attended was that of her grandson Matt in just August, 2011, where she danced, to the surprise of most of us, to the song "My Girl," which was played just before the service today. Unfortunately, illness kept her away from the most recent family event, the wedding of her great-granddaughter, Sarah. Mom unofficially retired from work at the age of 62 but continued to work three days a week until she reached the age of 75. We finally convinced her that she just wasn't able to keep working. She would work one day and have to rest two days so that she could work another day. The main problem was increasing pain in her back and legs, which was obviously the result of being on her feet for most of her life, whether while raising a family or working outside the home. After her official retirement, she still drove and took care of herself for many years. Mom had many good years and had an exceptional zest for life. She passed that on to her family and friends, many of whom are here today. The grandchildren all loved their grandmother dearly and treated her with respect. They gave her gifts, flowers, mementos, cards, etc. The grandchildren meant so much to Mom. She kept up with their lives and spoke of them very often. One thing that Mom said repeatedly was that if she was to get flowers, she wanted to receive them while she was living. Indeed, she received from her children, grandchildren and grea-grandchildren many flowers, especially beautiful red roses, her favorite. Her front porch always had beautiful flowers every spring and summer. As she wished, flowers were common Mother's Day gifts from the kids. In hindsight, those flowers are symbolic of a saying that her neighbor, Tyler, shared with us: "A mother's love is a blessing that blooms forever." All of Mom's children and their spouses, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren treated her with love and affection. They reciprocated her love, in my opinion, like no other family. We were always kidding her by saying that she started it all by having so many kids. Each and every member of the family knows that she loved them. As I mentioned previously, Mom's family was everything to her. She sometimes said that she would die for any of us. (This may be news to some, but it is true.) She wanted her kids to be happy and to have more than what she was ever able to have or to be. Mom was a very special person, who helped us understand more about life by sharing old adages from time to time. One of her favorite sayings was, "Other people are no different than you. They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like you." Simple and direct, her wisdom was a great leveler. But now our mother has left us and is in God's hands. We could not have asked for a more loving, kind, considerate, caring, and selflessly giving parent. All of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren will have the memory of her that can never be taken away. We will cherish it; it makes our lives richer. Before Mom's death, she had some very difficult health issues. This was regrettable because she was the one who showed us all how to handle hard situations all through her life. Unfortunately, she had to do so at the end of her life as well. It was her turn to receive the care she generously gave to others. With the help of family, friends, and neighbors such as the Doty family, Mom lived to be 91. Tammy, whom she raised, lived with her and was her main caregiver. Tammy sacrificed a lot and dedicated herself to taking care of Mom, providing the care that was needed in every way. Tammy's love for Mom was beyond what most of us have known when it comes to living with and caring for a person in need. All of us kids feel very thankful that Tammy was able to be there for her. Tammy had a special bond with Mom like no one else. Every day, at some point Tammy would ask, "Who loves you baby?" and Mom would answer, "You do." There was no one like Tammy in Mom's eyes. She trusted Tammy to take care of her the way that she wished. For the most part, Mom did not want anyone but Tammy to take care of her. She would always say, "Tammy will do that" and Tammy did. Thank you, Tammy, for all you did for your, and our, mom. Your love and dedication cannot be measured when it comes to how much a person can love and endure. You endured well. You gave up many years to be there for Mom, and we are forever thankful for all you went though. With Mom's passing, we know it won't be easy for you, or any of us. But Mom would say, as she often did: "Thank you, and now go and be happy and enjoy the rest of your life. You have earned it." We all love you, Tammy. Do not fear, Mom. You are still our champion and our hero. As you loved us, we loved you unconditionally and will always love you. You will be a part of our life until each of us come to our end. Let me close by sharing the words to a song that has comforted me. I hope it will comfort you, too. It is entitled "Go Now In Peace." Go now in peace, never be afraid; God will go with you each hour of every day. Go now in love and show you believe. Reach out to others, so all the world can see. God will be there watching from above. Go now in peace, in faith and in love. Amen, Amen, Amen We love you, Mom. There will never be anyone like you. COMES THE DAWN After awhile, you learn the subtle difference Between holding a hand and chaining a soul. And you learn that love doesn't mean security. And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts And presents aren't promises And you begin to accept your defeats With your head up and your eyes open. With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child. And you learn to build all your roads On today because tomorrow's ground Is too uncertain. And futures have A way of falling down in midflight. After awhile, you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much. So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting For someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure… That you really are strong. And you really do have worth And you learn and learn With every goodbye, you learn.