Freda Gay was the older of two daughters born to James Buren Baker and Jeffie Merl Paschall Baker. She was born in the home where her parents lived, and attended grade school at Paschall School just down the road from her home. Freda enjoyed being outdoors and going with her Dad to the fields; whereas, her sister, Milta Malee enjoyed being in the house helping her Mom. This experience carried over into her married years when she always went to the field with her husband of 57 years, Thomas Lee Armstrong.
Freda attended Lynn Grove High School where she was co-valedictorian. After high school, Freda enrolled at Murray State College working toward a major in home economics. She only attended college for one year since she married Thomas Lee Armstrong on June 19, 1943. Their first child, Frances Mildred was born October 10, 1944 and a son, James Henry was born August 3, 1949. Freda became a Christian in July of 1945 and was a member of the Church of Christ. Freda was a wonderful homemaker and was known for her delicious home-cooked meals. She always had the preacher for the "big gospel meeting" to come for dinner and he never went away hungry. Freda was also an excellent seamstress and made her clothes as well as clothes for her two children. She loved doing all types of needlework and made beautiful crocheted pieces. She and her mother and grandmother made many beautiful quilts. Freda was asked to be the first female school bus driver in Calloway County, Kentucky. She also was a school lunchroom cook at Lynn Grove School as well as at Southwest Elementary School until her retirement in 1988.
Freda and Thomas Lee always encouraged their children in everything they attempted . In order for her daughter, Frances, to take piano lessons she styled the teacher's hair to pay for the lesson.
Freda suffered a stroke December 18, 1992. Since she was unable to cook, Thomas Lee became the "worker" and she became the "teacher". She even taught him to make homemade biscuits! Thomas Lee cared for her until the day she collapsed with a heart attack and died in the doctor's office. She was certainly the epitome of a "help meet" for her husband (Genesis 1:18).
Freda attended Lynn Grove High School where she was co-valedictorian. After high school, Freda enrolled at Murray State College working toward a major in home economics. She only attended college for one year since she married Thomas Lee Armstrong on June 19, 1943. Their first child, Frances Mildred was born October 10, 1944 and a son, James Henry was born August 3, 1949. Freda became a Christian in July of 1945 and was a member of the Church of Christ. Freda was a wonderful homemaker and was known for her delicious home-cooked meals. She always had the preacher for the "big gospel meeting" to come for dinner and he never went away hungry. Freda was also an excellent seamstress and made her clothes as well as clothes for her two children. She loved doing all types of needlework and made beautiful crocheted pieces. She and her mother and grandmother made many beautiful quilts. Freda was asked to be the first female school bus driver in Calloway County, Kentucky. She also was a school lunchroom cook at Lynn Grove School as well as at Southwest Elementary School until her retirement in 1988.
Freda and Thomas Lee always encouraged their children in everything they attempted . In order for her daughter, Frances, to take piano lessons she styled the teacher's hair to pay for the lesson.
Freda suffered a stroke December 18, 1992. Since she was unable to cook, Thomas Lee became the "worker" and she became the "teacher". She even taught him to make homemade biscuits! Thomas Lee cared for her until the day she collapsed with a heart attack and died in the doctor's office. She was certainly the epitome of a "help meet" for her husband (Genesis 1:18).
Freda Gay was the older of two daughters born to James Buren Baker and Jeffie Merl Paschall Baker. She was born in the home where her parents lived, and attended grade school at Paschall School just down the road from her home. Freda enjoyed being outdoors and going with her Dad to the fields; whereas, her sister, Milta Malee enjoyed being in the house helping her Mom. This experience carried over into her married years when she always went to the field with her husband of 57 years, Thomas Lee Armstrong.
Freda attended Lynn Grove High School where she was co-valedictorian. After high school, Freda enrolled at Murray State College working toward a major in home economics. She only attended college for one year since she married Thomas Lee Armstrong on June 19, 1943. Their first child, Frances Mildred was born October 10, 1944 and a son, James Henry was born August 3, 1949. Freda became a Christian in July of 1945 and was a member of the Church of Christ. Freda was a wonderful homemaker and was known for her delicious home-cooked meals. She always had the preacher for the "big gospel meeting" to come for dinner and he never went away hungry. Freda was also an excellent seamstress and made her clothes as well as clothes for her two children. She loved doing all types of needlework and made beautiful crocheted pieces. She and her mother and grandmother made many beautiful quilts. Freda was asked to be the first female school bus driver in Calloway County, Kentucky. She also was a school lunchroom cook at Lynn Grove School as well as at Southwest Elementary School until her retirement in 1988.
Freda and Thomas Lee always encouraged their children in everything they attempted . In order for her daughter, Frances, to take piano lessons she styled the teacher's hair to pay for the lesson.
Freda suffered a stroke December 18, 1992. Since she was unable to cook, Thomas Lee became the "worker" and she became the "teacher". She even taught him to make homemade biscuits! Thomas Lee cared for her until the day she collapsed with a heart attack and died in the doctor's office. She was certainly the epitome of a "help meet" for her husband (Genesis 1:18).
Freda attended Lynn Grove High School where she was co-valedictorian. After high school, Freda enrolled at Murray State College working toward a major in home economics. She only attended college for one year since she married Thomas Lee Armstrong on June 19, 1943. Their first child, Frances Mildred was born October 10, 1944 and a son, James Henry was born August 3, 1949. Freda became a Christian in July of 1945 and was a member of the Church of Christ. Freda was a wonderful homemaker and was known for her delicious home-cooked meals. She always had the preacher for the "big gospel meeting" to come for dinner and he never went away hungry. Freda was also an excellent seamstress and made her clothes as well as clothes for her two children. She loved doing all types of needlework and made beautiful crocheted pieces. She and her mother and grandmother made many beautiful quilts. Freda was asked to be the first female school bus driver in Calloway County, Kentucky. She also was a school lunchroom cook at Lynn Grove School as well as at Southwest Elementary School until her retirement in 1988.
Freda and Thomas Lee always encouraged their children in everything they attempted . In order for her daughter, Frances, to take piano lessons she styled the teacher's hair to pay for the lesson.
Freda suffered a stroke December 18, 1992. Since she was unable to cook, Thomas Lee became the "worker" and she became the "teacher". She even taught him to make homemade biscuits! Thomas Lee cared for her until the day she collapsed with a heart attack and died in the doctor's office. She was certainly the epitome of a "help meet" for her husband (Genesis 1:18).
