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Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, with her husband, daughter, son and daughter-in-law at her side. Services in her memory will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23rd, at Cooper Funeral Home in Tecumseh, 210 W. Walnut St., with Drue Freeman presiding.
Helen was born to Ramona Barrett Jenkins and Hubert Bruce Jenkins in Shawnee, Oklahoma on March 11, 1949. She was raised by her young mother and grandparents after her father abandoned the family, and she was adopted by her mother's second husband, George Klotz. After that marriage failed, some years later, Ramona married Alfred Bradley, a wonderful man whom Helen considered to be her father. Her grandparents, Arch and Ramona Barrett (Papa and Granny) were the greatest stability in her early life, and she often spent summers with them on the family farm.
As a child, Helen would end up moving to northeast Oklahoma City after her mother accepted a job with the State of Oklahoma at the capitol building. There, at Dewey Elementary School, she met her husband-to-be, Drue Freeman, only neither one of them knew it at the time! She considered him a "show-off," and just put up with him at best. They passed cordially in the high school halls, then finally caught each other's attention and began to date their senior year. The first hurdle of their relationship was the fact that she was adamant about going to OSU, while he was a die-hard Sooner fan. Helen won the day, and Drue decided to go to OSU. There, she majored in home economics, with a minor in art, while Drue studied chemical engineering.
Both Helen and Drue had prayed as kids for God to send them their right person to marry, and the Lord answered those prayers. During their freshman year at OSU, Drue was offered a summer job selling Bibles door-to-door. The job would bring in enough money for them to get married, so he proposed the very next day! Helen, of course, accepted, and after a summer of successful Bible sales they were married on Sept. 14, 1968. This year would have been their 55th anniversary.
Helen completed her bachelor's degree in 1971. She opted not to trod the stage on graduation day, given that she was seriously "with child" (past-due). Just a few days later their daughter Jenifer was born. What a joy she brought!
Having thought she was going to marry a chemical engineer, it was a shock for Helen when Drue decided to change majors and schools, but she was always supportive. He earned his bachelor's degree in business management from Southwestern State College in Weatherford, Oklahoma, which led to the hotel and restaurant business. Together they traveled to various places, including a stay in Houston, but grew tired of the industry and returned to Oklahoma City.
It was at this point that Helen and Drue both got serious about studying the Word of God, faithfully attending a Bible church and seeking to live the Christian life. Drue heard "the call" and, with Helen's support, they moved to Tulsa to attend Tulsa Seminary of Biblical Languages. During Drue's final year of seminary, Bradley was born, completing the family. For Helen, both of her children added tremendous joy to her life and she daily thanked God for them.
She is survived by her husband Drue, of the home; Jenifer Hoke and her husband Tristan of Tecumseh, OK, and her son, Trevor Coldwell; Brad Freeman and his wife Christy of Yukon, OK, with their daughter, Kailyn, and son, Joseph. Also, two aunts, Mary Willard and Sally Chlouber; and cousins Randy Stark, his wife Katy and their three sons; Angela Claypool, her husband Chris and their two sons; and Linda Baum and her husband, Tim.
In lieu of flowers, Helen asked that any contributions in her name be sent to Village Ministries International, marked "Asia." Villageministries.org
Helen loved all of her family with a godly love and was faithful to them, even while battling the Parkinson's disease that would cut her life short. She was a blessing to all and will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m., Thursday, February 23, 2023. Service will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, February 23, 2023 at Cooper Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Drue Freeman officiating. Burial will follow at Tecumseh Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh. Please join the celebration of Helen's life through Cooper Funeral Home's Facebook page for live streaming of the service. A reception will be held following the graveside service at Broadway Chapel and Event Center, 204 South Broadway, Tecumseh, OK.