Fredda Starnes

Fredda (McNeely) Starnes passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 12, 2014 at the Garden Terrace Alzheimer Center in Aurora, Colorado. She is greatly missed by her loving husband of sixty-two years Lee Eddie Starnes, daughter Leigh (Starnes) Bessey and her husband Tim, her granddaughter Erin (Bessey) Gangloff and husband Kurt. Fredda is also survived by her sister Louise (McNeely) Wages of Petrolia, and sisters-in-laws Mary Louise (Starnes) Kostecki of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Varue (Gibson) Starnes of Wichita Falls as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Fredda was born March 28, 1931 to the joy and delight of her parents Fred and Loma (Burrus) McNeely in Frederick, Oklahoma. Later she moved with her parents and sister Louise to Petrolia, Texas. She graduated from Petrolia High School in 1948 and attended North Texas State University (NTSU) where she graduated with a BA Degree in 1952. While at NTSU Fredda was a member of the Green Jackets, Phi Gamma Kappa Sorority and the Mary Arden Club. She taught school in Petrolia for five years and in Colorado for 25 years. In Colorado she taught 3rd and 4th grades, and Title One Reading. Fredda loved teaching as well as the children she taught. She also loved her student's parents almost as much as she did their children. Fredda and her husband loved to travel. They traveled to Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Israel, Europe, South America, American and British Virgin Islands, Panama Canal and took several cruises in the Caribbean. They also visited about half of the United States from coast to coast. In retirement Fredda volunteered at the Aurora Hospital Auxiliary where she served for more than 20 years. She also served as President of the Colorado Association of Auxiliary and Volunteers (CAHAV). She volunteered in the schools where she assisted student as a reading tutor. Fredda was a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Denver. She was also an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma International Honor Society for teaching professionals, Eastern Star and a lifetime member of the Clay County Texas Historical Society. She was a tireless bundle of energy. Funeral services will be at the First Baptist Church of Henrietta Texas on Thursday April 17 at 2:00 pm with a Memorial Service at Calvary Baptist Church, Denver Colorado on Wednesday April 23 at 2:00 pm. Contributions may be made to the Colorado Alzheimer's Association or Calvary Baptist Church of Denver in lieu of flowers.