George Chester Freeman

George Chester Freeman Jr., a resident of Baton Rouge since 1943, died Monday, June 20, 2011, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center at age 80. He was born in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Oct. 6, 1930. He graduated from Baton Rouge High School and LSU. Following graduation, he served as a captain in the Army during the Korean War. While at LSU from 1948-1952, he played football and was elected co-captain of the 1951 team. He later served as president of the Downtown Optimist Club and the Baton Rouge Country Club, as well as chairman of the board of the Camelot Club and the L Club. He was a member of the Baton Rouge LSU Alumni Association, the BRHS Hall of Fame, Our Lady of Mercy Church, Omicron Delta Kappa and Kappa Sigma fraternity. He retired as senior vice president of Merrill Lynch after 25 years of service. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jaquelin Smith Freeman; three sons and daughters-in-law, George and Allison Freeman, of New Orleans, Kenny and Mary Ann Freeman, of Baton Rouge, and Taylor and Debbie Freeman, of Kennesaw, Ga.; four daughters and two sons-in-law, Cary and Rolfe Miller, of Baton Rouge, Paige and Frank Rosato, of Mandeville, Patty Freeman and Lauren Freeman, both of Baton Rouge; 10 grandchildren, Meredith Freeman, Sarah Freeman, John Freeman and wife Hilary, Jamie Freeman, Natalie Miller, Stephen Miller, Jordan Freeman, Katherine Freeman, Francesca Rosato and Christopher Rosato; brother-in-law, Jim Tow, of Falmouth, Mass.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Myrtle and George Chester Freeman Sr.; and his sister, Barbara Tow. Rabenhorst Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Visiting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., with additional visitation at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Graveside service at Roselawn Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Tommy Brown, Wallace Gladney, Rivers Livous, Troye Svendson, Harold Voss, John Freeman, Stephen Miller, Christopher Rosato and Fred Gowdy. Honorary pallbearers are Nellie Bourgeois, Bubba Field, Gwin Montgomery, Huntington Odom and Jim Tow. The family extends special thanks to his faithful caregivers, Rivers Livous, Yvonne Boyd and Ellen Matthews and to his primary treating physician, Dr. Patrick Gahan. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, The Baton Rouge Food Bank or your charity of choice.