Joanne S. Freeman

October, 7, 1922-September, 24, 2011

Age 88, passed away on September, 24, 2011 in the Carroll Center at the Glenridge of Palmer Ranch in Sarasota, Florida. Born in Crawfordsville, Indiana daughter of Irene Shanklin and Max Stanley Spears, Joie spent her early years in Evansville, Indiana and her teen years in the St. Louis area where she attended Clayton High School and was active in the a cappella choir and field hockey. She graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, in 1942, and continued her education at the Tobé Coburn School for Fashion Careers in New York City. On November 26, 1943, she married her husband, Richard. She worked as an assistant buyer in New York City department stores, and soon became a designer of Junior fashions for the Manistee Company and later at Smoler Bros.

In 1948, Joie and Richard moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where they started a family. While raising three children she was a member of the League of Women Voters. Joie was active in the successful effort to modernize the State of Tennessee’s Constitution. In 1957, the family moved to the North Shore of Chicago and soon after, their fourth child was born. Following their purchase of a Frank Lloyd Wright home in Glencoe, Joie used her creativity to oversee major renovations and design concepts. She joined the Infant Welfare Society and the Glencoe Garden Club (winning a blue ribbon in the Chicago Garden Show). As a devoted member of the Glencoe Union Church she served on the search committee to find a new minister and was active in a variety of church functions.

Throughout her children’s youth, Joie was involved in their activities: scout leader, school volunteering and most notably, designing and sewing many of the outfits her children’s events including dance dresses and a complete wedding ensemble for her oldest daughter.

In 1978, Joie and her husband moved back to Knoxville, Tennessee where she was elected to the Board of the new Knoxville museum of Art and became an avid supporter. Her final move was to Sarasota, Florida; first to Longboat Key where she enjoyed long walks on the beach, shelling and sunsets, then to The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch Retirement Community.

Over a ten-year span, from 1993 to 2003, Joie treated each of her eight grandchildren to a two-week trip abroad with her. Destinations included: Greece, Galapagos, France, London, Egypt, Italy and a Mediterranean Cruise.

Joie is survived by her husband of 67 years, four children; Randy Freeman of Santa Fe, NM, Mark Freeman of Winter Park, FL, Candy Vance of Cedar Rapids, IA and Marcia Albrecht of McFarland, WI.; eight grandchildren, two step grandchildren and one great grandchild and sister, Janet Moon of Palm Harbor, FL. She was preceded in death by her brother, Stan Spears.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the Knoxville Museum of Art or the World Wildlife Fund.

Arrangements under the direction of National Cremation & Burial Society, Sarasota, FL.