Freida Stockburger (Selby) Blue, of Springfield, passed away on August 5, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was born on January 23, 1937, in Lebanon, MO to Charlie and May Stockburger.
Freida was raised in Lebanon, where she graduated from high school in 1955. She grew up working in the family grocery store, where she did everything from pumping gas to stocking shelves. Between her parents and sister, they spent their entire childhood living in the back of the store, serving customers with a wholehearted effort and smile.
She married John T. Selby on July 2, 1955, and lived in Branson during their marriage, before finally settling in Springfield in the early 1960’s. Freida worked at the Springfield Drive In Theatre taking tickets, with her husband John working at Prudential. John passed away on August 31, 1977.
On September 18, 1981, Freida married Floyd Blue, of Springfield, and they enjoyed over 40 years together. Shortly after their marriage, they retired and enjoyed their life together, eventually settling in their Parkcrest neighborhood where they lived for close to 15 years. Floyd passed away on December 4, 2020.
Freida was a member of South Haven Baptist Church, where she had attended for many years. She enjoyed her Sunday school class, Esther-Harmony. Her class took several bus trips over the years, and she thoroughly enjoyed traveling with the South Haven groups. Beyond her church involvement, she enjoyed playing cards in several different clubs, enjoyed entertaining and feeding her friends and family, and worked in her yard, keeping up with her roses. Floyd and Freida enjoyed camping with the camping group “Ozark Wonders” for a number of years. Later in life, you could always find her busy doing something until Jeopardy came on the TV, and that became the end of a day for her.
Freida is preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and May Stockburger; her first husband John T. Selby ; a stepson, Charles Blue; husband Floyd Blue; sons-in-law Mark Lane, and Ron Purcell. She is survived by two daughters, Beverly Purcell of Joplin and Barbara Lane of Springfield; a sister Wilda Patricia Hodges of Republic; a stepson Bryan Blue of Conway, AR; daughter-in-law Pam Blue of Olathe, KS; grandchildren Mattie (Bryan) Shappley, Ben Durbin, Paul (Tracy) Purcell, Rebekah Purcell-Bettes and partner Ray, Keith (Corey) Long, Wes Blue, Amanda (James) Greeson, Ryan (Melissa) Blue and Jessie Blue; many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; two special nephews, James (Debbie) Hodges and Mike Hodges; along with several other Funeral services for Freida will be held at 3pm on Friday, August 9th at South Haven Baptist Church with Pastor Ryan Palmer officiating. A visitation will be held from 2pm until service time at the same location. A graveside service will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Springfield.
Funeral services are under the personal care and direction of Simpson Funeral Home.
The family encourages relatives and friends to visit www.simpsonfh.com to share photos and memories of Freida.
