James LeRoy Freeze Sr.

James LeRoy “Jim” Freeze Sr. passed away at the Liberty Lane Hospice at VA Medical Center in Salisbury on December 18, 2024, at the age of 88.

He was born on April 26, 1936, in Rowan County to the late Noami Albright and Fred Freeze.

James graduated from Landis High School in 1955. He went on to join the US Air Force where he worked in the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. James retired from Celanese in 2007. He was a member of the Salem Lutheran Church for over 50 years, as well as a Scout Leader for Pack 414. James loved baseball, fishing, and basketball. He was a big Tarheel fan. He also loved taking care of his chickens.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife Magdaline “Mag” Osborne Freeze (7-18-2007) and his brothers Bobby and Billy Freeze.

Left to cherish his memory are his son Jimmy L. Freeze Jr. (Carol) of Salisbury; his daughter Beverly Melchor (Ricky Hyatt) of Salisbury; his brother Dan Freeze of Washington State; his sisters Peggy Gordon of Kannapolis and Sylvia Atwell (Earl) of China Grove; his grandchildren Josh Melchor (Ashley), Jeremy Melchor (Sabrina), Abigail Freeze (Bradley Beck), Hillary Key (Michael), and Hunter Hoffner (Makensie); and his great grandchildren Makynzie, Tucker, and Sawyer Melchor, Peyton and Case Key, and Cullen and Dax Hoffner.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 am – 11:00 am on Friday December 27, 2024, at the Salem Lutheran Church, 5080 Sherrills Ford Rd, Salisbury, NC 28147. The service will be at 11:00 am. Burial will follow the service in the church cemetery with military honors provided by the Lyerly Joint Military Volunteer Honor Guard. Officiating will be Rev. Ernie Sheldon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Liberty Lane Hospice (C/O: Liberty Lane Hospice, VA Medical Center, 1606 Brenner Ave, Salisbury, NC 28144) or Meals on Wheels of Rowan County (720 Grove St, Salisbury, NC 28144).

Lyerly Funeral Home serves the Freeze family. Online condolences may be made at www.lyerlyfuneralhome.com.

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