Freida Marie (Jones) Pekarek, 82, passed peacefully from this life on Feb. 25, 2025 in Springfield. She was born April 8, 1942, in Lebanon, Mo., the first-born daughter of Harry David “Digger” Jones and Louise Enos (Krudwig) Jones.
Freida graduated Lebanon High School in 1960, and then attended beauty school in Springfield. After graduation, she found employment at a beauty shop in Waynesville.
Freida was very proud of her heritage: her father did much dirt and development work in the Lebanon area; her paternal grandparents Harry “Shorty” and Birdie Jones operated a gas station for years on Route 66; and her maternal side of the family (Krudwig) built 24 Catholic churches in the Ozarks.
She retired from Ozarks Technical Community College in 2011 after 14 years of service, mainly in the Continuing Education Department. She was a devout Catholic.
She was predeceased by her mother, Louise, and her father, Harry; and her three sisters: Davidann O’Dell, Rebecca Ridgeway and Cathy King. She is survived by her daughter: Sally Jo (Pekarek) Carroll and her husband, Don; her son: James Edward Pekarek and his wife, Karin; three grandchildren: Kayton Marie (Carroll) Glendening, Emelia Grace Carroll and Kender John Carroll; several cousins; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
Arrangements provided by Midwest Cremation & Funeral Services in Springfield.
