Chloe Ansell

Chloe Freeman Ansell, 88, died early Palm Sunday morning in Olathe from complications after surgery mid-week at Olathe Medical Center. She had been a resident of Vintage Park in Paola since 2011, moving there to be near her daughter, Jane Freeman, a resident of Lakemary Adult Care Home. Mrs. Ansell was born Dec. 12, 1925, in Strong City, Kan., to Clara (Winch) and Keith R. Doane. Together with her brother, Milton Doane, the family moved to Newton when she was 2 years old, where she graduated from Newton High School. She attended Bethel College for one year and then transferred to the Cadet Nursing Program at Halstead (Kan.) Hospital. Along the way, she spent an adventurous summer living in Hollywood, Calif., where relatives worked as set-builders in the movie industry. On March 31, 1946, she married U.S. Army veteran Ralph Waldo Freeman in the First Methodist Church in Newton. In 1947, they relocated to Iola. In addition to leadership in church, school and sports activities with her sons, she was instrumental in founding Tri-Valley Development Services Inc., and served on the board of directors for 12 years, including a time when she was interim director. She was also active in Special Olympics, guiding Jane through many years of competition as recently as 2013 in Wichita. She served as a den mother for both sons and their friends, and continued to support scouting along with Ralph, camping at Philmont Scout Ranch. Later, she qualified as a nursing home administrator, and worked at both Allen County Hospital and for many years as a dental assistant to Dr. L.W. Simmons. Following the death of Ralph Freeman in 1980, she married Virgil Ansell, who died in 2003. She is survived by sons George M. Freeman and wife, Nancy (Cravens) Freeman of Springfield, Mo.; James H. Freeman and wife Diane (Allen) of Fairway, Kan.; daughter Jane Ellen Freeman of Paola; granddaughters Kacey Temple (Les) of Springfield, Mo.; Carrie Freeman of Basehor, Kan.; Tyler Freeman of Kansas City, Mo.; a grandson, Webster Freeman (Adina) of Republic, Mo.; great-grandsons Skye and Mason Temple; great-granddaughters Bella and Ava Freeman. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother; her husbands, Ralph Freeman and Virgil Ansell. Graveside funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in Highland Cemetery under the direction of Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel. Friends may visit an hour before the service at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to Lakemary Center and left with the funeral home. To sign the guestbook online or send a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com .