Freda (Lawson) Lairmore, 90, died on March 3, 2011, at Presbyterian Manor of Newton.
Freda was born on July 20, 1920, in McPherson to Lorin and Jessie (Marty) Lawson. Freda was one of four daughters. They were Jean Bottger of Manhattan; Helen Patty of Medway, Maine; and Lois Walsh of Wilsonville, Ore.
After graduating from McPherson High School, Freda attended Kansas University in Lawrence for two years. For one year, she attended Bethany College in Lindsborg as an art major.
On June 15, 1941, Freda married Layne Lairmore at First Baptist Church in McPherson. In 1946, Freda and Layne moved from McPherson to Newton, where Layne started the Culligan Soft Water Systems with Dick Morris.
In 1949, Freda and Layne opened the Newton Dairy Bar, where they pasteurized milk and made and served ice cream. In 1956, Layne became postmaster of Newton from 1956 to 1980.
Freda was a life-long member of First Baptist Church in Newton. She worked as a dental assistant and lab tech for 23 years for Dr. Earl Sheets and Dr. Harold Gregg.
Freda was an avid golfer and was active with the Girl Scouts, American Rose Society, Junior Themian, Ladies Golf, Post Office Auxiliary, church activities, bridge club and ceramics.
Freda is survived by two daughters, Marty Anderson of Galena, Md., and Jeanie and Terry Jennings of Newton; son-in-law, Randy Keller of Topeka; five grandchildren, Hawley Anderson, Jessica Davis, Layne Keller, Jared Keller and Mindy Jennings; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lorin and Jessie Lawson; husband, Layne Lairmore; daughter, Mary Keller; and sisters, Jean Bottger, Helen Patty and Lois Walsh.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Newton. Pastor Terry Tareila will officiate. Following the service, a private family memorial will be conducted at the McPherson City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been set up for Newton Presbyterian Manor, First Baptist Church of Newton and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
