Ronnie Freshour

Ronnie Laird Freshour, 67 of Texas City, passed away on Monday, April 30, 2012 at Mainland Medical Center.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his father George F. Freshour mother Faye Martin Freshour and brother John Freshour all of Nacogdoches, Texas.

He is survived by his daughter Susan FreshourCarpenter of Texas City son Ronnie L. Freshour, Jr. Ron of Austin, soninlaw Jason Carpenter, grandchildren Coby and Carissa Carpenter brother Charles Freshour and wife Susan, aunt Jenny Diane Kennedy and husband Mike dear friend and former wife Jean Freshour numerous nieces and nephews, family and friends and special friend Sandi Bethune.

Ronnie was born on December 4, 1943, in Nacogdoches, Texas. He was raised on a farm in Melrose, Texas and graduated from Chrino High School in 1962. He worked his way through college at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas. During his junior year, he was drafted into the army where he did his basic training at Fort Polk, LAupon leaving basic training in 1965, he was awarded the sharpshooter trophy and medal. He was then transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he went through Pershing Missile trainingupon graduation in September 1965, he married Jean Waugh, his wife of 27 years. Ronnie was then shipped overseas to Schwabisch Gmund, Germany and served two years in the Pershing Missile Battery. Leaving the army with an honorable discharge in 1967, Ronnie returned to Stephen F. Austin and earned his BS degree on the GI Bill. He taught and drove the school bus in Rusk, Texas for one year. In 1970, Ronnie and his wife moved to Texas City where they were both employed by TCISD. After moving to Texas City, he continued with his education by earning a Masters degree in education at the University of Houston. He spent 34 years teaching Metal Trades and Industrial Arts in TCISD, first at Levi Fry, then Texas City High School, and winding up his teaching career at the Alternative Learning Center.

A love of teaching was deeply imbedded in Ronnie and he was driven by a lifelong desire to help his students and anyone who happened to cross his path. Not many of us are able to claim that we actually made a difference in someones life. Ronnie did, not just in one life, but in hundreds of students lives. It brought him great joy when he saw his students succeed in life. He never forgot them and he was there for them even after graduation.

Ronnie opened Freshour Manufacturing off of Texas Ave. in the 1970s. He was able to employ and apprentice many of his students and former students in the manufacturing, metal trades business. His goal was to teach his students to do their work well, do it right, and take pride in a job well done. In order for plants and refineries from all over the world to continue running smoothly, he manufactured parts from scratch. He was intensely interested in the precision and craftsmanship of firearms. He went on to develop the 50 caliber rifle now used in the military. He was a master machinist, inventor, and educatorteacher and he will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and former students.

Ronnies pride and joy in life was his daughter Susan, his son Ron, and his grandchildren Coby and Carissa. His life was extended by five extra years through the efforts of MD Anderson Brain and Spine Cancer Center. His eyes twinkled at the sight or mention of his children and grandchildren.

We want to express our gratitude and thanks to all those who worked with and treated Ronnie at MD Anderson, especially Dr. de Groot and Julie Walker of the Brain and Spine Center. Also, we would like to express our thanks to Russell Jordan and all the staff of Elmcroft of the Mainland for taking such good care of Ronnie in his last few months of life.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held honoring Ronnie on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at EmkenLinton Funeral Home in Texas City. Visitation is from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. A Memorial Service will be conducted by Pastor Mike Tyson of St. Johns UMC from 2:00 P.M. till 3:00 P.M. also at EmkenLinton Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made through www.cancer.org.

Visitation

Service

Memorial Contributions