Gary A. Freeman

Gary Allen Freeman, 81, of Carthage, Illinois, died at 12:55 p.m. Wednesday, December 10, 2025, with his family by his side at Wesley Village, Macomb, Illinois.

Gary was born on June 23, 1944, in Burnside, Illinois, the son of Charles Ralph and Thelma Lake (Vass) Freeman. Gary married Sherlie Jean Lowe on December 27, 1964, in Carthage. Gary is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jean of Carthage; two daughters, Stephanie (Rusty) Willey of Carthage and Tricia (Mark) Thomas of Galesburg, Illinois; four grandchildren, Bethany (Dan) Scheetz, Alyssa (Ethan) Summers, Andrew Thomas, and Luke Thomas; and four great grandsons, Asher, Hollis, Kampbell, and Henry; three brothers, Donald Freeman of Wesley Village, Macomb, Illinois, Mikel (Dianne) Freeman of Chillicothe, Illinois, and Dennis (Cindy) Freeman of Keokuk, Iowa; and one sister, Diane (Ed) O’Neil of Clinton, Iowa. Along with his parents, Gary was preceded in death by one son, Gregory Allen on November 2, 1968; three brothers, James, Ronnie, Charles Ralph, Jr.; and five sisters, Delores Phillips, Katherine Martens, Janet Campbell, Carol Freeman, and Crystal Withers.

Gary worked at Cargill in Carthage for 21 years, prior to setting out on a 20-year trucking career. He drove OTR for several years with Sharkey Transportation before starting his own company G&J Trucking, retiring in 2006. Gary was a longtime volunteer and former treasurer and secretary at the Carthage Clipper Fire Department. He enjoyed many family trips camping to Alley Springs, Missouri along the Jacks Fork River and to Seven Ponds Campground in Burlington, Iowa. After retirement, Gary and Jean began travelling including many trips to Branson, Missouri and two family trips to Orange Beach, Alabama. Their travels took them on a special trip to Washington, DC with Jean’s brother, Sam (Nina) Lowe. Throughout his life, family always came first. Gary always enjoyed his Saturday mornings drinking coffee and telling stories with special friends around his kitchen table. He spent many hours volunteering at the fire department for their pancake fundraisers, mountain oyster feeds and playing cribbage.

Visitation will be 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday, December 15, 2025, at Printy Funeral Home, Carthage, Illinois. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Moss Ridge Cemetery, Carthage. Arrangements have been entrusted to Watson Thomas Funeral Home, Galesburg and Printy Funeral Home, Carthage. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Carthage Clipper Volunteer Fire Department or Hancock County Volunteers for Diabetes. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.