FREELS, Dorothy May (née Scroll)

July 2, 1923 — August 12, 2022

Dorothy May (Scholl) Freels was born July 2, 1923, in Enterprise, Oregon. She passed August 12, 2022, in West Kelowna, British Columbia, at the age of 99 years. Dorothy is predeceased by her parents Jesse and Sara Scholl; her only sister Emma Jean Tubbin; and Robert Freels, her husband of 68 years; her 20-month-old son, Michael; and son-in-law David Caudle. Dorothy is survived by children Janine Caudle, Joslyn Freels (John McCutcheon), and Douglas (Marlene) Freels. Grandchildren; Jason (Maryann) Caudle, Cortni (Vince) Berke, Karlie Hartley, Reginald Freels, Carson (Ashley) Freels; and Great-Grandchildren; Rob Sinclair, Kendra Caudle, Brodee Berke, and Hazel Freels. Dorothy attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse in NE Oregon, continuing her education at Eastern Oregon College in the field of elementary education. When the US Air Force Recruits (WWII) took over the women’s dormitory at Eastern Oregon College, the girls relocated into large homes in the area, Dorothy was elected president of her house of 24 young women. In her senior year, Dorothy was elected secretary of the College Student body. Dorothy and Robert Freels were married on June 5, 1945, near the end of WWII. Bob had spent 3 years in the South Pacific while serving in the US Coast Guard. Bob and Dorothy returned to Wallowa County, working for local ranchers, and purchased and sold a feed mill. In 1955, they purchased Indian Village/Fence Creek Ranch, located 35 miles NE of Enterprise, Oregon. Mom wrote: “Ranching was not an easy life, but for the individual who worked hard and enjoyed it as much as her family did, it was always rewarding and a great way to raise the family.” Each Fall, the family would move the cows to the canyons (Fence Creek), where the kids would attend school at Imnaha. Come Spring, they would pack up and move back to Indian Village. Neither home had electricity until several years later. When the children were ready for high school, a move was made to town, where the family lived in a routine. Then the excitement of a move to Canada was in Bob’s mind! In 1970, Bob and Dorothy sold all their Oregon properties and moved to beautiful Peachland, BC. In 1971 Peachland Transfer was purchased, and for the next 24 years, Dorothy kept meticulous books for the business. In 1995 Bob and Dorothy were on the move again! They sold in Peachland, and purchased on Nicola Lake, in Merritt, BC. And still, they had 2 more household moves to make while in Merritt. It was a well-lived, and fruitful life they lived together.

“You are loved, and will be missed”.

If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.