Jay Robert Freeland

Jay Robert Freeland, age 61 of Kramer, passed away Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Franciscan Health in Lafayette, IN.   “The people who make you smile from just seeing them, those are my favorite people.“   Jay Robert Freeland was born October 28, 1956 to Robert Lee and Norma Davis Freeland. He graduated Seeger High School in 1976 where he participated in high school sports. He had worked for Harrison Steel and was later employed by Bob Benson Trucking.   Jay was born with tons of charm, a devilish twinkle in his eye and was a man of many words. His smile and laugh were contagious and you just could not be in a bad mood around him. He valued being with family and the traditions made throughout the years.   Jay was a lover of the outdoors, as a young adult he was very active in boy scouts. He loved his Boy Scout leaders; William Talbott, Jim Bratton, and Larry Zufall.   People gravitated towards him and once you met him, you just could not help but fall in love with him. He had many friends and if you were one of those friends - there’s no doubt that you were friends for life.   He loved making people laugh, telling stories, woodworking, and gardening. Later in life he became an ordained minister and performed the wedding ceremony for his cousin and her husband.   If you did not know him personally there’s a great chance that you have at least heard a story or two involving him.   Surviving are, Aunt, Sharon Strickland of Williamsport, IN; Cousins, Terri Strickland of Brownsburg, IN, Tony and Michelle Strickland and their daughters Allie and Larissa of St. John, IN, Dustin and Grace Zufall of West Lafayette, IN, Troy and Anna Zufall of Brownsburg, IN, and Tami and Michael Hughes of Williamsport, IN; Honorary family: Ruth, Penny, Jim and Donna White; Several other loving family members   Jay was preceded in death by his parents; aunts and uncles Larry and Jaxine Zufall, Ron Strickland, Joyce Davis, and Jeanne Foster.   Visitation will be held at Grady Funeral Home in Williamsport Thursday, September 13, 2018 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be at Grady Funeral Home on Friday, September 14, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery in Williamsport. Memorial contributions may be made to the Warren County Community Foundation or Williamsport Summer Park Program.