Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Donald Francis Freeman


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Donald Francis Freeman and six of his descendants down to the third generation.


First Generation
1. Donald Francis Freeman,1 born 30 October 1917 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, the son of Lester E. Freeman and Belle Olmstead;1, 2, 3 died 6 June 1997 in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan.1, 3, 4 Donald married, 3 January 1938 in LaGrange County, Indiana, Mary Catherine Gazlay2 (born 8 January 1918 in Highland Park, Wayne County, Michigan, the daughter of Bird Pearl Gazlay and Lillian Anna Ruff;2, 5, 6, 7, 8 Mary died 18 May 2011 in Okmulgee, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma5).

Children of Donald Francis Freeman and Mary Catherine Gazlay:

+2i. Sandra Anne Freeman, born 15 September 1938 in Michigan. Married (1) Henry Martin Sante Married (2) Terry D. Castor.
+3ii. Rita Lee Freeman, born 26 November 1947 in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan. Married Gerald Lee ‘Jerry’ Bailey.
+4iii. Donald Dale Freeman, born 28 February 1950 in Holly, Oakland County, Michigan; died 7 August 2021 in Gaylord, Otsego County, Michigan. Married (1) Melanie Denise Meeuwenberg Married (2) Dawn Renee Berney.
+5iv. Alan Francis Freeman, born 9 January 1955. Married Mary Stouffer.

  1. Find a Grave (website). (Cremated), Donald Francis Freeman, born: 30 October 1917 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York; died: 6 June 1997 in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan (from record, which provides the names and links for his parents, siblings, wife, and one child).
  2. Indiana Marriages, 1811-2018/2019, Application for Marriage License, and Certificate of Marriage, Donald Francis Freeman, born: 30 October 1916 in Niagara Falls, N.Y.; truck driver; father: Lester E. Freeman, born in Fredonia, Pa., printer; mother: Belle Olmstead, born in Toronto, Canada; first marriage; Mary Catherine Gazlay, born: 8 January 1918 in Highland Park, Wayne [County], Mich.; father: Bird Gazlay, born in Westwood, Mich., laborer; mother: Lillian Ruff, born in Mich.; first marriage; married on 3 January 1938 in Lagrange County, Indiana.
  3. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Donald Freeman, no. 377-16-5423, died 6 June 1997, born 30 October 1917.
  4. Boards at Ancestry.com; Post by Brenda Hibner, 26 July 2001, provides the death dates of several Michigan Gazlay family members and their relatives.
  5. Find a Grave (website). (Cremated), Mary Catherine Gazlay Freeman, born: 8 January 1918 in Ferndale, Oakland County, Michigan [sic, her marriage license entry shows her birthplace as Highland Park, Wayne County, Michigan, less than 5 miles from Ferndale]; died: 18 May 2011 in Okmulgee, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma (from record, which provides the names and links for her parents, four siblings, husband, and one child).
  6. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, Michigan, Wayne County, Highland Park City, Enumeration District 704, Sheet No. 25B, family of Bird P. Gazlay (31, Michigan, filer, automobile fact[ory]); wife Lillian Gazlay (32, Michigan); daughter Mary K. Gazlay (1 11/12, Michigan); daughter Marjorie Gazlay (3/12, Michigan); brother Arnol Gazlay (18, Michigan).
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, Michigan, Oakland County, Ferndale City, Enumeration District 63-20, Sheet No. 12B, family of Bird Gazlay (40, Michigan, filer, body factory, first married age 27); wife Lillian Gazlay (42, Michigan, first married age 28); daughter Mary C. Gazlay (12, Michigan); daughter Marjorie J. Gazlay (10, Michigan); daughter Marilyn Gazlay (9, Michigan); daughter Arlene P. Gazlay (7, Michigan); daughter Dorothy Gazlay (5, Michigan); daughter Edythe L. Gazlay (5/12, Michigan).
  8. U.S. Federal Census, 1940, Michigan, Oakland County, Holly Village, Enumeration District 63-49, Sheet No. 4A, family of Bird P. Gazley (50, Michigan, press operator, Foster Body manufacturing); wife Lillian A. Gazley (52, Michigan); daughter Marjorie Gazley (20, Michigan, waitress, tavern); daughter Marilyn Gazley (19, Michigan, waitress, tavern); daughter Arlene Gazley (17, Michigan); daughter Dorothy Gazley (15, Michigan); daughter Edythe Gazley (10, Michigan); daughter Mary Freeman (22, Michigan, cook, tavern); grand daughter Sandra Freeman (1, Michigan).
Second and Third Generations
2. Sandra Anne Freeman2 (Donald1), born 15 September 1938 in Michigan.1, 2 Sandra married, first, Henry Martin Sante (born 17 June 1919, parents not determined;3 Henry died 3 January 20063). Their marriage ended in divorce in February 1966 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California.4 Sandra married, second, Terry D. Castor (born 23 May 1935, parents not determined;2, 5 Terry died 6 April 19995, 6).

Children of Sandra Anne Freeman and Terry D. Castor:

 6i. Devin Wade Caster, born 15 June 1971.2
 7ii. Ryan Eugene Caster, born 15 June 1974.2

3. Rita Lee Freeman2 (Donald1), born 26 November 1947 in Flint, Genesee County, Michigan.2, 7 Rita married, 1 February 1964 in Atlanta, Montmorency County, Michigan, Gerald Lee ‘Jerry’ Bailey7 (born 14 September 1941 in Holly, Oakland County, Michigan, the son of Edward Hamilton Bailey and Helen Virginia Goings;2, 7, 8 Jerry died 9 October 2021 in Davisburg, Oakland County, Michigan8).

4. Donald Dale Freeman2 (Donald1), born 28 February 1950 in Holly, Oakland County, Michigan;9, 10, 11 died 7 August 2021 in Gaylord, Otsego County, Michigan.9, 11 Donald married, first, 3 January 1969 in Atlanta, Montmorency County, Michigan, Melanie Denise Meeuwenberg10 (born 28 November 1950 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, the daughter of Wallace Irvin Meeuwenberg and Joanne Colleen Clark;10, 12 Melanie died 2 May 200612). Donald married, second, 23 October 2004 in Lewiston, Montmorency County, Michigan, Dawn Renee Berney11 (born June 1962, parents not determined2).

5. Alan Francis Freeman2 (Donald1), born 9 January 1955.2 Alan married Mary Stouffer13 (born ____, parents not determined).

  1. U.S. Federal Census, 1940, Michigan, Oakland County, Holly Village, Enumeration District 63-49, Sheet No. 4A, family of Bird P. Gazley (50, Michigan, press operator, Foster Body manufacturing); wife Lillian A. Gazley (52, Michigan); daughter Marjorie Gazley (20, Michigan, waitress, tavern); daughter Marilyn Gazley (19, Michigan, waitress, tavern); daughter Arlene Gazley (17, Michigan); daughter Dorothy Gazley (15, Michigan); daughter Edythe Gazley (10, Michigan); daughter Mary Freeman (22, Michigan, cook, tavern); grand daughter Sandra Freeman (1, Michigan).
  2. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
  3. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Sante, Henry Martin, no. 566-10-0999, died: 3 January 2006; born: 17 June 1919; last place of residence: Corte Madera, Marin [County], California.
  4. California Divorce Index 1966-1984; available at ancestry.com and familysearch.org, Henry M. Sante and Sandra A. Freeman, divorced in Feb 1966 in San Francisco City, California.
  5. Find a Grave (website). Commerce Memorial Cemetery, Commerce, Oakland County, Michigan, Terry D. Caster: Terry D. Caster / US Army / May 23, 1935 Apr 6, 1999 / Beloved Husband and Father [from grave marker].
  6. Boards at Ancestry.com; Post by Brenda Hibner, 26 July 2001, provides the death dates of several Michigan Gazlay family members and their relatives.
  7. Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995; Gerald Lee Bailey, age 22, born in Holly, Michigan, son of Edward H. Bailey and Helen Goings; Rita Lee Freeman, age 16, born in Flint, Michigan, daughter of Donald Francis Freeman and Mary Gazely; married 1 February 1964 in Atlanta, Michigan.
  8. Find a Grave (website). (Cremated), Gerald Lee “Jerry” Bailey, born: 14 September 1941 in Holly, Oakland County, Michigan; died: 9 October 2021 in Davisburg, Oakland County, Michigan (from record, which provides the names and links for his parents and siblings).
  9. Find a Grave (website). (Cremated), Donald Dale Freeman, born: 28 February 1950 in Holly, Oakland County, Michigan; died: 7 August 2021 in Gaylord, Otsego County, Michigan (from record, which includes the text from his obituary; and provides the names and links for his parents).
  10. Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995; Donald Dale Freeman, born 28 Feb 1950 in Holly, Michigan, son of Donald Francis Freeman and Mary Catherine Gazlay; Melanie Denise Meeuwenberg, born 28 November 1950 in Detroit, Michigan, daughter of Wallace Irvin Meeuwenberg and Joanne Colleen Clark; married 3 January 1969 in Atlanta, Michigan.
  11. Obituary, Tribute Archive (website: tributearchive.com), Donald Dale Freeman, died: 7 August 2021 in Gaylord [Michigan]; born: 28 February 1950 in Holly, Michigan. The article provides vital and biographical details and the names of his parents, wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and siblings.
  12. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), Social Program Correspondence/Document, Melanie Denise Freeman, alias: Melanie Denice Wicks, Melanie Denise Meeuwenberg, died: 2 May 2006; born: 28 November 1950 in Detroit, Michigan; father: Wallace I. Meeuwenberg; mother: Joann C. Clark; previous residence: Lansing, Ingham [County], Michigan.
  13. Gazlay Family Tree, by David Paul Gazlay. First edition published June 1984. Second edition published August 2001. This extensive Gazlay family tree provides birth and death years (but not exact dates) for Gazlay descendants, and names (only) of spouses. No sources are cited, but the compiler is known to have collected information from numerous documents and Gazlay descendants. Names, dates, and relationships should be compared to other source citations.