Freda Kezia Longman
August 24, 1925 - January 5, 2019
As published in the February 4, 2019 World-Spectator
Freda Kezia Dayman was born on August 24, 1925 to Peter and Ella Dayman on their homestead in the Crocus District, five miles south of Windthorst, Saskatchewan.
After finishing high school in Windthorst, Freda attended Normal School in Regina then taught at country schools near Melville and McNaught school near Maryfield where she met Lloyd Longman, her husband of 66 years. She worked for many years as a book-keeper for the Maryfield Co-op, was a long-standing member of the Agricultural Society, Maryfield 4-H club, Maryfield Curling Club and Maryfield Senior Harmony Centre.
Like many of her generation who grew up in the “dirty thirties” Freda was very resourceful and had a use for everything before it became known as re-cycling.
She was very talented at sewing for her family, and also did custom sewing for many in Maryfield. Even the tiny left-over pieces of fabric were saved and pieced into a lovely warm quilt for family members.
She was an excellent cook and baker. Homemade marshmallows were a Christmas treat every year. She won first prize at the Regina Provincial Exhibition one year for her homemade raisin bread.
Freda was the true definition of a homemaker. Her family always came first. She strongly believed in a good education being a teacher in her early years at the tender age of 18 and even teaching kids who were older than her at one point in one of her rural one-room schools. So it was not surprising that later on in life, after marriage and kids, she encouraged her own children, helping with their homework and other activities.
Grandchildren and later two little great-grand-daughters were her pride and joy.
She enjoyed growing a big garden, not only for the food it produced to can and pickle, but also just for the beauty of the flowers and plants.
Freda’s many other talents included beautiful crochet work, knitting, oil painting and other art projects. She was always eager to try a new type of handicraft or activity be it cake decorating, wheat-weaving, or ceramics. She was an avid reader—her hands and mind were never idle.
Freda also enjoyed sports—softball in her younger days and especially curling for many years. She competed in the Saskatchewan Senior Ladies playdowns several times. In her later years, curling and the odd Blue Jays baseball games on TV interested her.
Freda’s outlook on life was reflected in this little verse which was kept framed and handed down from her mother:
Don’t look for the flaws as you go through life
And even when you find them,
It is wise and kind to be somewhat blind
And look for the virtue behind them.
She was a kind and generous neighbor and friend to many.
Family members were especially important to Freda—she came from a large family and married into a large family and always looked forward to visiting everyone. Her nieces and nephews and their families were special to her. She always enjoyed their visits or just hearing from them, celebrating weddings and new babies.
Freda greatly appreciated her last “home” at the Villa. Wonderful meals, good care from the excellent staff, volunteers who provided entertainment, library books and always friends to share a cup of coffee or a card game.
Freda was pre-deceased by her husband Lloyd Longman; her parents, and brother George who died in action on D-day June 6, 1944; sister Laura Silversides and her husband Clarence; brother Lloyd and his wife Verna; sister Ruth Longman and her husband Gordon; brother Russell; brother Gordon and his wife Muriel; and brother Arnold. Her husband Lloyd’s parents Guy and Pearl; his step-mothers Nellie (Snyder) and Florence (McLean); brother-in-law Norris and sister-in-law Gerry; brother-in-law Lyle; sister-in-law Fern and brother-in-law Martin Jensen; sister-in-law Joyce and brother-in-law Edgar McAdoo; sister-in-law Margaret and brother-in-law Percy Christmas; sister-in-law Myrtle and brother-in-law Bruce Sprague; sister-in-law Mae and brother-in-law Rodney Christmas; nephews Keith and Roy Sprague, and Ken Longman.
Freda is survived by by her children, Linda (Bill) Mulligan, Elkhorn, Man. And Morley (Lisa) of Thunder Bay, Ont. Grandchildren Chris Mulligan, Winnipeg, Man. And Laureen (Jeff) Cowie, Okotoks, Alta. Also, Lisa’s daughter, Xue, of Thunder Bay, Ont. Great-granddaughters, Haedyn and Madelyn Cowie. Sisters-in law Merle Dayman, Windthorst, Sask., and Mary Longman, Outlook, Sask. As well as many nieces and nephews.
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