Richard Lee Freie

Richard Lee Freie passed away peacefully at his home in Oak View, CA on Friday December 11,, 2015. He was born in Altadena, CA July 10, 1944 to Jack T. and Maxanna Lee Freie. After a brief time living in Fillmore, CA they moved to Ventura,CA where Richard attended school, participated in football and baseball and graduated from Buena High School.

After high school Richard enlisted in the army where he excelled in many skills and soon became a Green Beret with specialties in the areas of communications and combat medics. He served 18 months in Vietnam and earned the rank of SGT E-5 prior to being discharged and coming home.

Upon returning to Ventura he worked at Green Thumb International Nursery and then at Abex Manufacturing Corp. where he met his wife, Kathy Crockett. He then moved to Oak View where he fell into a way of life with a rhythm that was all his own and lived there for the rest of his life.

Richard enjoyed being with his friends and sharing his love of nature. He had a special interest in cats, large and small, as well as birds of prey. Military history, Civil War battle tactics and military memorabilia were topics he loved to talk about with others.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father and his niece, Stephanie Duke De Lorie.

Richard is survived by 3 siblings: His sister, Jacqueline Welch (Merlin), his brothers Robert Freie (Becky) and Mark Freie (Barbara).

A memorial service is to be held at Camp Comfort Park in Ojai, CA, Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurses Association or any charity of your choice.