Sidney Thurston Freeborn

Sidney Thurston Freeborn, a longtime resident of Jim Wells County, passed away from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on May 2, 2005 in George West, Texas. Sidney was born on June 27, 1926 to Sidney Mills and Bella Shaeffer Freeborn. He was the youngest of three children. Sidney's grandfather, Franklin Wingot Shaeffer, came to South Texas from Lancaster, Ohio, by way of California and New York City. Mr. Shaeffer founded the Shaeffer Ranch in South Texas in 1862 and married Rowena Elisabeth Davidson from Galveston. Mrs. Shaeffer's parents were Texas pioneers during the days of the Republic of Texas. Mrs. Shaeffer's father, John Davidson, owned an interest in three cargo ships and regularly carried cargo for Sam Houston up the Trinity River. During the Civil War, Mr. Davidson had been a blockade runner in the famous Battle of Galveston. At the turn of the century, the Shaeffer Ranch spanned over 65,000 acres in Nueces, Duval, Jim Wells, and Live Oak Counties. Sidney lived with his family on the ranch and, at an early age, hunted, fished, rode horses, worked cattle and lived the life of this historic working ranch. He was always very proud of his acumen in riflery shooting Marksman at a very young age. At the age of 6, his mother, his sister - Rowena Elisabeth Freeborn, and his brother - Marshall Franklin Freeborn moved to San Antonio to live with his grandmother for educational purposes. His father remained and worked the ranch year round. In San Antonio, Sidney attended elementary school at St. Martin Hall and high school at the Texas Military Institute (TMI). Upon graduation in 1944 and towards the end of World War II, he joined the Navy and was sent to the Pacific island of Saipan where he drove a jeep and ferried officers by boat from the big ships to the island. Following World War II, Sidney attended Texas A&I University in Kingsville now known as Texas A&M University. There he met Jean Lucile Harris. They were married in Dilley, Texas on August 27, 1947. Upon graduation, Sidney taught veterans in George West and then high school Agriculture in Orange Grove. In 1955, Sidney finally returned with his family to his beloved ranch and began ranching and contributing to his community. He was a member of the Orange Grove Lions club; President of the Orange Grove School Board of Trustees; member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Orange Grove, serving in the Choir and as President of the Church Council for many years. He was a member of the Orange Grove Booster's Club, the Jim Wells County Fair Association, and was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. Throughout the years, he served as Foreman of the Grand Jury in Jim Wells County. Sidney was passionate about his political beliefs but always maintained that he was an Independent. He participated and supported all of his five children's' activities in school, 4-H clubs, FFA activities, sports activities, dancing recitals, and he coached Little League for several years. He tooled beautiful leatherwork and was an avid sportsman. He loved boating of all kinds, fishing, hunting, and would spend hours upon end water skiing with Jean, his children, and his many extended family and friends around the Rockport Ski Basin. Sidney was a member of the Live Oak Duplicate Bridge Club, a Docent for the Grace Armentrout Museum in George West, and a contributor to the Orange Grove Area Museum. Sidney Freeborn loved his family, his church, his friends and community, and the United States of America. He was predeceased by his parents Sidney Mills and Bella Shaeffer Freeborn, and his sister, Rowena Elisabeth Freeborn. He is survived by his wife, Jean Harris Freeborn; his brother, Marshall Franklin Freeborn (Mary Ann) of Cuero; his children - Sharon Freeborn Skrobarcek (Dwain), Sidney Thurston Freeborn, Jr. (Leda), Kathryn Freeborn Strause (Jimmy), Sylvia Lynn Freeborn, and Mary Elisabeth Freeborn (Kevin Fetterman); his grandchildren - Sidney Jarrett Skrobarcek, Brian Keith Skrobarcek (Kiela), Gregory Paul Skrobarcek (Tammy), Dwain Edward Skrobarcek, Gabriel Paul Freeborn, Wesley Caleb Freeborn (Celina), Morgan Freeborn, Sidney Freeborn III, James Douglas Strause, Christopher Carl (Lola) Strause, Kate Strause (David) Thistle, Megan Lynn Marlborough and Harley Franklin Fetterman; his great-grandchildren: Logan Keith Skrobarcek, Landon Blake Skrobarcek, and Lathan Bain Skrobarcek, Bradley Thomas Strause, Kayla Jean Strause, Wyatt David Thistle, Kaylee Belle Freeborn, and Savanna Leigh Strause. Visitation: Robersons Funeral Home, Alice, Texas - Friday, May 6, 2005 - 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM - Family will be there 5 PM - 8 PM. SERVICES First Lutheran Church Orange Grove Saturday, May 7, 2005 11:00 AM Graveside Services 4 PM Mission Park South, San Antonio, Texas. Services entrusted to: ROBERSON FUNERAL HOME Alice, Texas 78332 (361) 664-1661