Hi Everyone,
What a great website! After graduation I headed off to OSU and in two years
married my high school sweetheart, Austin Freeman (Eldorado, OK class of 1975).
After graduation we settled in Duncan, OK. and spent the next ten years there. I
was an elementary school teacher and Austin was a design engineer for Halliburton
Energy Services. Keith Austin and Kara Allyn (borrowed from Allyn Bishop!) were born
in Duncan.
In December of 1989, Austin’s job sent us to The Netherlands. He was part of a
five man team assigned to start up a European Research Center from scratch. (I
remember him coming home once talking about hanging toilet paper holders. I
personally helped him paint handicap parking places in the lot out front. ) I taught at
the American School of The Hague in Wassenaar where the kids attended.
What was supposed to be a two year tour stretched into six and a half. We asked
to come back home in June of 1996. We chose the Dallas area and have been in the
same spot in Flower Mound ever since. I have been a middle school special ed
inclusion teacher for the last eight years and Austin is the Administrator for
Regulated Products for Halliburton. He travels a lot now, but the kids are grown and
I can go with him from time to time. Kara and I just spent a week with him in
Brazil. He attended meetings and Kara and I shopped and sunned by the pool.
Quality mom-and-daughter time. We slipped in a little touring, too.
Kara is 21 and a senior at OSU. She will graduate in December with a degree in
political science. She has been commuting daily to Tulsa to get an associate degree
in paralegal for a year or so and will be done with that in September. She is just
beginning to job hunt. Keith is 24 and graduated from Abilene Christian University in
May 2005 with Marketing and Management business degrees. He works in downtown
Dallas as a trust officer for Bank of America, and is considering trying to go
somewhere locally for a Masters. We love having him close enough to see once in a
while. (He can be bribed with food.) He just bought his first home (condo) a couple
of days ago. We weren’t consulted! Turn around and they grow up on you. Both
kids are still single (but looking) so no grandkids in sight.
My love of animals now is focused on our two border collies instead of horses and
show calves. My beautiful 1970 AQHA mare from high school finally had to be put
down in April. She had long since been retired as a prized pet at my uncle’s place
outside Tulsa. I showed her in Western Pleasure and Halter classes, but spent my
happiest times just looking between her ears headed down irrigation ditches north of
town…and hanging around the ag barn and stock shows. That is where I caught my
first glimpse of Austin!
Work, church stuff, and needlework (quilting and hardanger) keep me busy now. I
also care for my mom who moved in with us a year and a half ago. We’ll be occupied
this summer/fall building a different house that will shorten Austin’s commute and
better accommodate my mom’s needs. We visit the Altus area occasionally to see
Austin’s mom and sister/family that still live in Eldorado.
It has been fun to touch base with you this way. All the best!
Mary Reece Freeman
austin.freeman@comcast.net
Austin, Mary, Keith, and Kara with Bonnie and Rush. The picture is 3 years old, but
at least we are all in the shot. The kids were both home from college.
Austin, Mary, and Kara in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (May 2006). What is really
important? The “Joe’s” shirts! The photographer was laying flat on his back shooting
up to get the statue.
Guy Night at our house in April 2006. It was actually a tool “shower” for a college
frat buddy getting married. Keith is leaning on the chair. Our “other son”, Brandon,
is on the left in the white shirt. He has been Keith’s best friend since 8th grade and
college roommate. He lived with us one summer and hasn’t felt compelled yet to
return the key.
Someday I’ll have grandkids to focus on. For now I have Rush and Bonnie. (Forget
swimming without them. They know what bathing suits are and which towels are the
pool towels.) Outsmarting border collies keeps you young!
Mary Reece Freeman Family
