James Allison “Jim” Freeze Sr., 78, of Elkin, N.C., went to Heaven on Friday, February 18, 2022, at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital.
He was born in Iredell County on July 26, 1943, to the late Ralph Deal Freeze and Evelyn Pauline King Freeze. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Robert “Bob” Freeze, and a nephew, Allen Freeze Jr.
Jim served in the U.S. Navy and was proud of his time there. During the time he was stationed in California, his ship, the USS Estes, went to Portland for the flotilla at the Seattle World’s Fair. He was chosen to raise the North Carolina flag at this event. For most of his working career, Jim worked in plumbing and heating and held a North Carolina Plumbing and Heating Contractors License. The last several years of his career were spent with Lowe’s Hardware, where he was in engineering and construction and was the Project Supervisor in charge of building the new stores. He was there to oversee the building from the ground up and then turned the keys over to the store manager upon completion. Jim also enjoyed fishing, wood working, making whirligigs and bird houses, going to the beach, and spending time with his family and friends.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 56 years, Karen Emme Freeze; a son, James “Jim” A. Freeze Jr. (Amy) of Elkin; a daughter, Janice Freeze Brown (Keith) of Traphill; four grandchildren, Faith Davis, TJ Navarro (Hayley Dawson), Casey Estes (Ethan), and Amanda Brown; three great-grandchildren, Miranda Estes, Kaylee Estes, and William Estes; a sister-in-law, Rebecca “Becky” Little Freeze; a niece, Melanie Freeze Brown; great nieces, Mallorie Brown and Addie Brown; a great nephew, Lane Allen Freeze; and his fur baby, Sammy, who was his special buddy.
A Funeral Service will be held Friday, February 25, 2022, at 11 a.m. at the Nicholson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Michael Flack officiating. Burial will follow at Iredell Memorial Gardens with full military rites. The family will visit with friends Thursday evening February 24, 2022, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Nicholson Funeral Home.
Memorials may be sent to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road., Statesville, NC 28625 or to Brunswick County Animal Shelter, 429 Green Swamp Road NW, Supply, NC 28462 or to the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be left at www.nicholsonfunerals.com.
Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the Freeze family.