Freda Roberta Durham

Freda Roberta Durham, 90-year-old Nowata resident, passed away Thursday, November 14, 2024, surrounded by family. She was born February 2, 1934, in Chelsea, Oklahoma to Fred and Leda (Rushing) Roberts and was the youngest of four children. Her namesake came by combining her parents’ names. 

The Roberts family moved to Nowata when Freda was thirteen months old. She attended Nowata schools and graduated with the class of 1952. After graduation, she moved to Tulsa and worked as a receptionist for New York Life Insurance Company until she met the love of her life, Albert “Ab” Durham. The two were married on January 3, 1953, in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. 

Freda and Ab made their home in Sand Springs until moving to Tulsa in 1956. Ab worked for the Post Office and Freda was a stay-at-home mom. Ab transferred to the Nowata Post Office in 1973. They built their home just outside Nowata and resided there until their death. 

Freda started her own business in 1992 making country western shirts for many, six hundred and thirteen to be exact, country music stars until her retirement in 1996. She was the Nowata County Democrat Chairman for ten years, an Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Nowata, and all around active within the community. 

Freda is survived by her children, whom she and Ab adored, Teri Gean McLennan and husband, Keith, of Tempe, Arizona, and Dirk Alan Durham and wife, Stacy, of Vinita, Oklahoma; three grandsons, Sean Michael McLennan and Jon-Erik McLennan of Tempe, Arizona, and Cory West Durham and wife, Shelby of Vinita; and one great granddaughter, Kennedy Rae Durham of Vinita. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ab; her parents; two brothers; and one sister. 

The family would like to thank some very special people who were always there for their mother: Camden Coffman, Keven and Melanie Holdredge, Harris, Liam, and Willow Holdredge, Doug Farris, and Wayne Reeder. In addition, the family would like to give a special thank you to the First Presbyterian Church of Nowata, Oklahoma. 

A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 2:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church of Nowata with Pastor Keven Holdredge officiating. Interment will follow in Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery with Cory Durham, Jon-Erik McLennan, Sean McLennan, Camden Coffman, Wayne Reeder, and Harris Holdredge serving as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers are Mike Drumheller, Doug Farris, Liam Holdredge, and Keven Holdredge. 

Online condolences may be made at www.honoringmemoriesnowata.com or on the funeral home Facebook page. Arrangements are in the care of Benjamin Funeral Service of Nowata.