Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Freeman McKelvy

Mr. Freeman Quinn McKelvy, 58, of Houston, Texas, formerly of Prescott, passed away Wednesday, July 21, 2004, at Michael DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, after a short battle with lung cancer.

He was born on September 26, 1945, and raised in Nevada County, the youngest child of Lee Roy and Mari Martin McKelvy.

He was a 1963 graduate of Prescott High School, 1967 graduate of Southern State College (now Southern Arkansas University) of Magnolia, receiving his BBA in accounting. He enlisted in the army and in 1968 he was commissioned as a Lt. He served his remainder of his military career as Senior Intelligence Officer on the S.E. Asia/China desk with the office of the assistant chief of staff for Intelligence at their offices at the National Security Agency in Washington, D.C.

He resided in Houston for 25 years employed as a Corporate Federal Tax Manager with the Coastal Corp of Houston. He elected early retirement in June 2001 upon the merger of Coastal into El Paso Corp. He has been fully retired since that time. He was very laid back, easy going and got along well with everyone. He, as a kind, gentle man was happiest when he was gardening. He was an avid gardener and lover of all things that bloom and a self-taught student of horticulture. He loved nice things, great food and conversation with friends. He loved to eat out, experience life and loved animals. He was a supporter of wildlife funds, such as the World Wildlife Fund and environmental causes such as the Sierra Club. He loved to entertain and his guests have said there was no more gracious a host than Freeman.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Freeman was especially grateful for the love, support and care given by his loving sister, Bonita, during his illness.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Michael DeBakey Veterans Affairs Center in Houston for the care they provided to Freeman.

His survivors include: one brother, John Fletcher McKelvy of Prescott and two sisters, Sophie Marie McKelvy Taylor of Prescott and Bonita McKelvy Whitecotton of Shreveport, La.

Graveside services were Saturday, July 24, 2004, at Ebeneezer Cemetery Bluff City, with Rev. Jerry G. Westmoreland officiating. Burial followed. Arrangements by Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott.