Pauline Freeman

Pauline Moats Weaver Freeman, 86, of Willis, Texas and a former resident of Philippi, West Virginia passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday August 30, 2023, after a fierce battle with a rare form of Leukemia.

Those left to treasure her memory include her three loving daughters: Tracy Leasa Freeman Olds and husband Dan Olds of The Woodlands, TX, Kelli Lane Freeman Vanscoy and husband Randall K. Vanscoy of Kernersville, NC, Whitni Lynn Kines and husband Jim Kines of Philippi, WV. She is also survived by her four grandchildren Tasha Marie Olds Proske Murphy and husband Michael T. Murphy of Steamboat Springs, CO, Kendyl Lane Olds Beaird and husband James D. Beaird of Willis, TX, Shannon Rae Vanscoy Triplett and husband Jason Triplett, and Parker James Kines and wife Carri Kines. Her great-grandchildren Bella Rayne Proske, Scarlett Chase Proske, Lance Brooks Triplett, Aniston Quinn Triplett, Livvi Bly Kines, Gemma Rayne Kines, Madison Murphy, Madalyn Murphy, and Asher Criss loved their “Mam-Mam” dearly. Pauline was loved by all who knew her, and leaves behind many other family members and friends, as well as her long-time companion, Dean Dorchester of Conroe, TX.

Pauline was born in the wee hours of the morning of July 4, 1937, to her mother, Bly Moats, and father, Paul Kenneth Weaver, at the home of her grandparents, Nora and Stingley Moats of Moatsville, West Virginia. Pauline married the love of her life, Billie Dennis Freeman on January 14, 1955, in Nestorville, West Virginia and graduated from Philip-Barbour High School in the spring of 1955. Billie passed away in May 2005, soon after their 50th wedding anniversary.

Pauline had many careers in her lifetime. She was a stay-at-home mother in her early years. She worked as a dental assistant, nursing aide, and a telephone operator for several hospitals and clinics. These were times when operators had to make the connection using wires and plugs prior to rotary dial phones. She worked on the inspection line at the Hazel-Atlas glass factory in Clarksburg, and as a clerk at GC Murphys in Elkins, WV. She then went to nursing school and graduated in 1972 from Davis Memorial Nursing School as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She scored top honors on her boards and was subsequently employed with Nella’s Nursing home in Elkins, WV. She then decided to go to work in the coal mines and was one of the first handfuls of women to work underground. She proudly worked as a shuttle buggy operator for Bethlehem Steel and then Kitt Energy. When the mines closed, Billie and Pauline moved to Atlanta, Georgia and she returned to nursing, working in a doctor’s office. Upon Billie’s retirement, they fulfilled a lifelong dream to live on the lake, settling in Lake Conroe, TX where Pauline continued nursing for 17 more years at The Woodlands Family Practice doctor’s office before she retired. She considered coal mining to be the best job she ever had.

Pauline enjoyed many years of boating, fishing and bird watching from their deck on the lake. She loved traveling and watching the Houston Astros. Her favorite vacation was any cruise anywhere in the world. She had a true adventurous spirit and was a lover of life, God, and family. She loved fast cars from her Nissan 280Z to her Chrysler 300C Hemi which she drove up until two weeks before her death. She was involved in the Margaret Montgomery Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and her joy was watching the chickens from her back porch with a cold Coke in her hand and her yorkie, Bentli, on her lap. Those who knew her will miss her easy smiles, clever wit, mischievous laughter, and how she balanced being an absolute firecracker while being so full of grace, beauty, and class.

Family and friends may call at the Wright Funeral home in Philippi, WV from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday night, September 8, 2023. Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, September 9, 2023, at Wright Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Mountain State Memorial Gardens in Elkins, WV.

A Texas memorial service will be conducted at The Olds Ranch in Anderson, Texas on Saturday October 21, 2023, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Pauline was a loving wife, wonderful mother, fabulous grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her passing will leave a void for her family and many friends.