Freda Eleanor (Ready) Johnstone

Freda Eleanor Johnstone, 97, died February 12, 2020 in Saratoga, California.

Freda was born on July 8, 1922, in Thermopolis, Wyoming to Vola Belle (Dockery) and Jess Ready.

Freda married Robert E. Johnstone in 1942 while Bob was stationed at Camp Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She often told the story with both pride, and as a great adventure, of taking the bus to meet him and marry in a small Methodist church on Cheyenne Mountain.  Freda followed Bob every place he was sent from Colorado to California and then to North Carolina. When he was shipped overseas to the European Theater in Germany, Freda came back to Thermopolis to work. Over the years, Freda worked in several retail stores but was especially fond of her time working for Miriam Short (The Fashion) and  then Jolene Smith (Jolene’s).  She considered them both such great friends.  

Freda was a dedicated mother and especially loved her role as Mimi to her five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She loved to cook and kept an immaculate home. She volunteered in the schools, checking children for strep throat every week of the school year, and held many offices in PEO, Music Club and the American Legion Auxiliary. She never missed selling Poppies each November 11th. Freda was extremely proud of her work with the American Legion Auxiliary's Wyoming Girls State which she attended over 20 years as a counselor. 

Freda is survived by her sister, Vida Fisher, and her two daughters, Roberta Treick (Dave) of Cody, and Karen Hermanson (Robb) of Los Gatos, California.She is also survived by five grandchildren; Juliana (Tim), Kyle (Ethnie), Katie (Kevin), Kristen (Chris) and Scott (Sarah) and her great grandchildren Eleanor, Rowan, Taylor, Logan, Luke, Will, Carter, Kamryn, Harper and Andrew.  What a blessed family we are to have had her in our lives. 

Freda was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, and passed away on what would have been his 100th birthday. She didn’t want to miss a good party. Freda was also preceded in death by her siblings Beulah Brown, Vera Carroll, Edith Shumway, Aubrey Ready and Forrest Ready.

Should friends desire, contributions can be made to Suncrest Hospice in San Jose, CA, who have so lovingly taken care of Freda these past three months.

Graveside services will be held at Riverside Cemetery, July 13, 9:30 AM.  A reception will be held at Smoking Waters Shelter in the State Park at 10:30 AM.

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