Freta Marie Dooley
Jan. 17, 1926 – Feb. 27, 2019
Freta Marie Dooley, 93, of Richmond, Missouri, died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 at the Excelsior Springs Hospital.
Freta was born on Jan. 17, 1926, in Ray County, the daughter of W.O. “Bill” and Bertie O. (Dudgeon) Layman. She was united in marriage to Jesse Casper “J.C.” Dooley of Ray County on Nov. 26, 1944. He preceded her in death on July 7, 2016.
Survivors include: one son, Dennis Dooley and his wife Carol of Excelsior Springs, Missouri; one daughter, Karen Kruse of Lawson, Missouri; one sister, Mary Russell of Burlington, Kansas; five grandchildren: Carrie Dooley, Darcy Kruse, Devin Kruse, Sam Harris, and Cynthia (Ottice) Hall; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one brother Leroy Layman.
Freta graduated from the Stet High School. She was a housewife and homemaker and also worked side by side with her husband on the farm. She especially enjoyed raising sheep and had a love for flowers. Freta was of the Christian faith and an active member in the New Hope Methodist Church when they lived in the Stet area.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group in Richmond. They can be left at or mailed to Thurman Funeral Home, 507 East Main Street – P.O. Box 190, Richmond, MO 64085.
Memorial services, with inurnment, will be held at a later date, by the family, at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville. Thurman Funeral Home in Richmond is in charge of arrangements. Please share your memories of Freta by visiting www.thurmanfuneralhome.com.