Freda Lee Wescott

Freda was born on August 28, 1922, the seventh of ten children born to Elva Bowen and Ruth (Shaeffer) DeBolt on a farm in Hale, Missouri. Freda loved to share stories of growing up in Hale, and her wonderful memories are treasured by her family. In 1938, she married the love of her life, William Claude Wescott, from Salisbury, Missouri. Freda and William were married for 73 years, and were loving parents to their three children, Sandra Rosalie Chipley, Gary Trent Wescott, and Cathy Lynn Swenson. Although they started their life together very young, during the time our country was still in the Great Depression, they worked hard, cared deeply, and were an inspiration to their family.

Freda was an accomplished Duplicate Bridge player and enjoyed the many friends she made while at the Bridge table. Freda was always generous in assisting new players in learning the fine art of the game of Bridge. Freda worked for thirty years at the National Bank in North Kansas City’s business community, where she made countless lasting friendships. Freda was a 50+ year member of the Order of Eastern Star in North Kansas City, Missouri. Freda and William were one of the founding families of the Unity Church on Northeast Barry Road, which first began its church services on the lower level of what was then Antioch Shopping Center. Freda was a wonderful cook, and her cinnamon rolls were renowned within her family and friends.

Freda is survived by her children, Sandra Chipley, Gary (Diana) Wescott, and Cathy (Kurt) Swenson; ten grandchildren, Gail Chipley, Craig Chipley and wife Naomi, Laura (Chipley) Leon and husband Joel, Brian Chipley, Jeffrey Wescott and Melissa, J. Lynn Wescott, Joseph Swenson and wife Jennifer, Cristina (Swenson) Wright and husband Glen, Amanda Swenson and husband Casey, and Erik Swenson and wife Sonya. She was a proud great grandmother of twenty. She was preceded in death by her husband, William, her parents, two brothers, Willard DeBolt and Hugh DeBolt, her sisters, Rosalie Huff, Dorothy Kemp, Lois Adams, Elizabeth Barnhart, Shirley Auer, and Jerri Baggs. She is survived by her sister, Joan Newport, and many nieces and nephews. A loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Freda will be greatly missed, but wonderful memories will be a constant comfort to all who knew and loved her.