Verna Lee "Happy" Freeman passed away Thursday, May 30, 2013, at her home of 70 years north of Cortez.

Happy was born in Amarillo on April 4, 1917, the second child of William I. Vance and Mable U. Thomas Vance.

Happy was raised on a homestead in eastern New Mexico just out of Portales. She met Steve Freeman, who lived on a nearby farm.

They were married March 6, 1940, and moved to the Cortez area in 1943. They had one son, Gary Freeman.

Happy loved working in the yard.

From early spring till late fall, she could always be found digging somewhere in a flowerbed.

In the winter, she would work on her quilts. She started quilting when she was just big enough to sit at a quilt frame and sewing machine.

When she grew tired of quilting, she would crochet or work on crossword puzzles.

Every year her three grandchildren would spend the summer with her and Steve, and they had high adventures camping and fishing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, by three brothers. Dan Vance, Bill Vance, and Paul Freeman, and by her husband of 57 years, Steve Freeman.

Happy is survived by her son Gary and his wife Charlotte of Dolores, three grandchildren, Kevin and his wife Karen of Sun Prairie, Wisc., Shelley of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Kelley and her husband Steve of Oklahoma City, Okla.; six great-grandchildren, Kaili, Kaylyn, Kiara and Kellen Freeman of Sun Prairie, Wisc., Jessica Freeman of Dallas, Texas, and Sean Freeman of Oklahoma City, as well as several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews, and Betsy Freeman, her sister-in-law, of Portales, N.M.

Happy was a member of Cortez First Assembly of God since her move here in the 1940's.

There will be a celebration of her life July 5, at 14149 Rd. 25, the family home.

This will be a potluck dinner, and those who attend should bring favorite story of Happy.