Omega Ann "Mickey" Mabra Freeland was born on April 4, 1932 in Comanche, Texas, to parents Mike and Virgie Mabra. She passed away on December 30, 2013 in Austin, Texas. Omega, known to many as Mickey, met and married Betah H. "Jack" Freeland, Jr. on July 24, 1954. Betah, known as Jack, worked for Petroleum Engineering, which relocated his family to Midland, Texas in 1960's. It is there, in Midland, where Mickey became well known for her work. She worked numerous years as a director for interpretation for the deaf at the First Baptist Church. She also served many years as a swim coach at the local Midland YMCA. She started out as a swim instructor and worked her way up to coach, although starting out she did not know how to swim. In 1973, her family moved to Conroe, where she was a manager for the neighborhood swimming pool. While living in Conroe and in her 60's, she attended and earned her Bachelors of Science in public health. She went from a ninth grade education to college. Around 1998, Jack and Mickey moved to Granbury, Texas, where they enjoyed picking pecans and walking in nature. They lived in Granbury till Jack's death in February 2010. After her husband's death, she moved to Austin, Texas to be closer to her two daughters. Mickey was known by everybody as having a "zest for life." She had many loves, such as dancing, listening to music, loving nature, animals, and children. May her passion for life and her laughter live on in all of us. She is preceded in death by her husband, Betah H. "Jack" Freeland, Jr.; and by her siblings, Donald, Pearl, Jean, and Robbie Jo Mabra. She is survived by her daughters, Wynn Renee Freeland and husband, James Harris Rudolph, and Terri Marie Tollett and husband; Michael Lee Tollett; her granddaughter, Nicole Danielle Freeland; and by her grandsons, Michael Cody Tollett and wife Melissa Leighann Tollett, and Collin Lee Tollett and wife Jenna Theresa Tollett. She is also survived by her handsome great grandsons, Cody Braxton Tollett and Jaxson Lee Tollett; her siblings, Francis and Alvie Mabra; and by many nieces and nephews that loved her dearly. She was cremated, per her wishes, and a memorial will be scheduled for later in the spring.

Published by Midland Reporter-Telegram on Jan. 12, 2014.