Marlin Douglas Freeman

Born on May 5th, 1943, Marlin was the third child and only son of C.J. and Eula Freeman. Growing up in rural Craighead County, Marlin learned early in life the need for hard work. This trait stayed with him all his life, through multiple careers and worksites.

Marlin passed quietly at home in the predawn hours of July 31, 2024. Over the past five years, he fought multiple, customarily terminal illnesses to a stalemate, coming to be called by one attending physician, “an alley cat”.

The passion of his professional life was the optical industry. Through inventive craftmanship and dogged determination he helped difficult cases, often children, see clearly for the first time in their lives. In 1962 Marlin joined American Optical in Jonesboro. He was well known through the Arkansas optical dispensary business, initially as his employer’s representative, then on his own behalf, when he opened Freeman Optical in 1996. A thirty-year member of the Opticians Association of Arkansas, he held a seat on the Board of Directors until the time of his passing.

Marlin is survived by his wife: Peggy Joan Wagner Freeman; his daughter: Donna Michele “Missy” Rickels (Phil); his three grandchildren: Charles Jackson “CJ” Rickels (Ayla), Margaret Elizabeth “Maggie” Rickels, Michael Ross Rickels (Kaersti); his great-granddaughter: Caroline Louise Rickels; two sisters: Hannah Freeman and Connie Freeman Field; and his two closest friends and their children: Judy and Doug Sanford. He is predeceased by his only other child: daughter, Penelope Joann “Penny” Freeman; and two sisters: Mazie Freeman Henry and Mavis Freeman Kirksey.

In honor of Marlin's life, a visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 9th, 2024, and a celebration of life will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 10th, 2024, at Smith Benton Funeral Home, 322 North Market Street in Benton. Marlin will be buried privately alongside his daughter Penny, at Philadelphia Cemetery in Jonesboro, AR.

Although Marlin is no longer with us, his legacy will continue on in the lives of those who he most held dear.