- Date Of Birth: February 27, 1927
- Date Of Death: August 6, 2022
- State: Texas
Janice Merle Scarborough Freund, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, Great Grandma and friend passed away in Belton, Texas on August 6, 2022 at the age of 95 years young. She was born in Robstown, Texas on February 27, 1927 to William Edgar and Versa Virginia Caraway.
She lived in Belton, Texas prior to her passing.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, Jacqueline Scarborough, Leatha Scarborough, Sue Reagan, Great Granddaughter Emily Ward and her son Samuel Freund.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan Kay Ward (Mike), seven grandchildren, Shawna Maedgen (Dee) of Troy, Nichole Melde of Temple, Samuel Freund of San Antonio, Danielle Freund of Beeville, Michael Ward (Erin) of Academy, BJ Ward (Marianne) of Temple and Justin Ward (Ashleigh) of Academy. Fourteen great grandchildren, Madison Ward, Brock Ward, Lane Ward, Trey Ward, Kaden Ward, Bailey Maedgen, Myla Ward, Katelyn Ward, Aria Newman, Kaitlyn Maedgen, Case Ward, Karrigan Ward, Emily Maedgen and Katherine Ward.
She is also survived by three sisters, Ginger Lewis of Missoula Montana, Faye Jean Kimball of New Braunfels, Texas, and Ruth Ann Akers (Jim) of Fredericksburg, Texas and two brothers, Bill Scarborough (Pat) of Santa Anna, Texas and Jack Scarborough (Dianne) of Banquete, Texas. In addition, numerous Nieces and Nephews.
Jan was born at a home between Robstown and Banquete in 1927.
Jan graduated from Banquete High School in 1944. She received her Bachelor of Science degree with a Teacher’s Certificate in 1948 from Texas A & I University in Kingsville, TX. She was married to Edward Freund from August 1951–June 1975. They moved numerous times and raised Charolais cattle for several years. She taught Homemaking and was a Home Demonstration Agent in New Mexico and Texas. Jan and Eddie adopted Sam and Susan and loved them greatly!
Jan sewed probably all her own clothes growing up. She continued to do so for Susan. She taught Susan how to sew and Susan sewed for her own girls.
She taught Special Education in Banquete High School. She retired from classroom teaching in 1993. She couldn’t stay away from teaching after retirement, so she substituted and taught students in the Homebound program for 5 years until the age of 70. She was a wonderful guidance and support to all the kids who came through her classroom. She was a member of Banquete Baptist Church for very many years.
Since Education was a passion for Jan, she of course shared that with Sam and Susan! Cub Scout Leader, Boy Scout Leader, Brownies Leader and Girl Scout Leader are a few of the things she did with Sam and Susan. Needless to say, there was always Summer school with her. Reading, Writing and Arithmetic and don’t forget spelling were the courses covered each summer much to Sam and Susan’s delight! Right..not!
Jan and Eddie raised a small herd of cattle. With Eddie being gone for work a lot of the time, the job of taking care of the cattle fell on Jan’s shoulders along with Sam and Susan. So many moments and events happened with that situation. A couple stand out. Jan and Susan were feeding range cubes to the cows out of the bed of the truck while Sam was in the cab of the truck. (Sam and Susan would switch places ever so often). Sam accidentally hit the gear shift lever It went into gear and the truck started moving. Jan jumps from the back of the truck, runs to the get in the cab. The door was locked! Sam got it unlocked and Jan hops in and slams on the breaks. Just about 20 feet before it would have gone off into a deep ditch with Susan riding in the back still throwing out range cubes! Not funny at the moment but, provided many a chuckle over the years! Another challenging moment was when we had to doctor a mommy cow. No problem getting her in the squeeze shoot and secured where she couldn’t move. Got the cow’s milk bag doctored and gave her medicine. Time to let her out and Jan couldn’t get the lever to release. Mom was strong but as you know probably only 125 lbs. Sam added his weight, and the lever still didn’t release. Susan hung on and still wasn’t enough. (Sam was 9 and Susan 7). Jan had to go to the neighboring ranch and get the rancher to come get the cow out. Poor cow was in there about 45 minutes!!
Jan unselfishly moved to College Station to help take care of Sam while he was going through Chemo treatments. She would take him to and from his treatments and stay with him until his wife, Dana, would get home. She would also run errands for them and as you all know Jan, she would cook dinner for them a couple of times each week. Throughout his care, she would go pick up Sammy and Danielle from San Antonio and bring them back so they could visit with Sam and then take them back to their home again. She knew the route very well and put many miles in. After she broke her hip in 2008 and went through re-hab (very quickly I might add!), she moved into Belton to be close to Susan and Mike. She was very active in Miller Heights Baptist Church in Belton and attended every activity they had that she was able to. The Bible studies and church get togethers were her favorite. She loved the good ole gospel songs and the gospel songs by country music artists.
While in Belton, Jan known as Grandma Jan and Old Grandma attended baseball and softball games that the great grandchildren played. She loved Baseball but loved softball more as she played softball when she was younger. Sam took her to one of Texas A & M University’s softball game when Missy Scarborough was playing. It was a highlight moment for her to watch college softball and a player with the name Scarborough!
Jan loved God and it showed through the way she loved her family and friends. Always caring about their needs and helping whenever she could.
Jan is rejoicing with God in heaven! She and her glorious love for her God and Family will be greatly missed but heaven gained very precious angel!
