Julie Kay Freeman

Julie Kay Freeman, 58, passed away after an 18-year courageous battle with cancer, on Saturday, August 12, 2017, surrounded by her loving family.

Memorial:

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, August 17, 2017, at the Lucas Funeral Home in Hurst, Texas.

Julie was born on July 11, 1959, to Monte Ferrell and Katherine Thompson, in Keene, New Hampshire, her mother’s birth place, shortly after her father was re-deployed from his duty station in Dallas. She was proud to say she was really a Texan. She was the second oldest of seven children. Her father was in the Navy and the family lived throughout the United States following her father’s duty stations before settling in Fort Worth. Julie attended Amon Carter-Riverside High School, received a degree in nursing from Tarrant County Junior College and later obtained her BSN from Texas Woman’s University. Julie’s passion for serving came from her mother being a nurse. Julie served her last 28 years at Cook Children’s Hospital where her true love and compassion for caring for children was fulfilled. Julie retired due to medical complications in 2014. For almost 15 years she was on the Teddy Bear Air Transport Team as an RN/Paramedic bringing critically ill or injured children to Cook’s from all over Texas and other places via ambulance, plane or helicopter. Julie was quoted in a 2000 Star-Telegram article about her decision to join the Teddy Bear Transport team, “I thought those nurses were so cool,” she said. “They saved those kids’ lives, and they were so smart. They were awesome. I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

Julie met her husband Bob at the age of 14 while she was volunteering as a Candy Striper at Haltom General Hospital where Bob also worked. They married when she graduated high school at the age of 17 and Bob was 19. They were married for over 40 years and were blessed with two wonderful children, Melanie and Bobby. Julie was a mom to all she met. She was devoted to anything and everything involving her children. She was a gymnastics mom, karate mom, Girl Scouts mom, PTA mom, soccer mom, football mom, band mom and color guard mom. Julie, in her free time, volunteered for Meals on Wheels for many years faithfully and lovingly providing meals and encouragement to all who knew her.

Julie was preceded in death by her father Monte, mother- and father-in-law, Chuck and Jean Freeman, brother-in-law Charlie Freeman, sister-in-law Donna Jean Swann, and brother-in-law Tim Miller. She is survived by her husband Bob, daughter Melanie Freeman, son Bobby Freeman and wife Mandy of Roanoke, mother Katherine Ferrell of Fort Worth, brothers David Ferrell (Gale), Jeff Ferrell, Alec Ferrell, Tim Ferrell (Rhonda), sisters Annie Sammons (Cliff), and Monica Miller, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would especially like to thank her sister Monica who lovingly stepped in as a caregiver for the last 18 months of the battle, taking Julie to doctor’s appointments, her treatments, and being with her through several surgeries this last year.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to your favorite charity, or to Cook Children’s Health Foundation in honor of Julie Kay Freeman at https://www.tmcfunding.com/search-memorials/campaign/1624?layout=single .