Freda Helen NORMAN TREAT

Freda Helen Norman Treat
Jan 27, 1925 - Jan 28, 2020

Thomas Elton
US Army
World War II
December 29, 1925 - August 13, 2001

*Obituary

Freda Helen Norman Treat, 95, of Searcy, died peacefully in her home on January 28, 2020. Her last days found her surrounded by friends and family, who gathered to share memories, laughter, and tears. Mrs. Treat was born January 27, 1925, youngest of the four daughters of Jesse Washington Norman and Gover A. Vernon Norman of Pangburn. Born on a family farm, she was part of the generation that faced the Great Depression and World War II. In her role as a Rosie the Riveter, she worked for the ammunition depot in Jacksonville and she was one of the many women who worked the nation’s farms to free men to serve in the military. In the postwar years she raised a family and worked in retail for over 30 years, serving as a department and store manager at Lerner’s Shops (Albuquerque, NM) and at Gibson’s and Wal-Mart in Searcy.

She and her late husband, Thomas Elton Treat, were well known in the community for hosting fish fries for family reunions and church gatherings. She was a member of Holly Springs Church of Christ near Clay. She was also a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Bee Line Chapter. She was an avid gardener who shared her knowledge of flowers and cuttings from her plants. She loved cooking for friends and family, and she kept her hands busy until her last days by crocheting afghans and tea towels those she loved.

Mrs. Treat is survived by two daughters, Darla Treat Courtney (Duke) of Charles Town (WV)and Carla Treat Stapleton (Gary) of McCrory; three granddaughters, Mary Patricia Courtney (Bill Greenwald) of Greencastle (PA), Idabelle Elizabeth Courtney (Ed Gallegos) of Albuquerque (NM), and Molly Elizabeth Ford (Alex) of North Little Rock; and three great-grandchilden, Jacob Vernon Holter (Meghan) of Rocky Mount (NC), and Chase Elton Holter and Emma Courtney Holter of Greencastle. She is also survived by numerous extended family members and beloved friends who enjoyed the hospitality of her heart and home.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and three sisters, Trueceal Norman Moreland, Leola Norman Pearce, and Jessie Norman Staggs.


The following written by Darla Treat Courtney, daughter of Thomas Treat.In late 2003, the mail carrier brought a long-overdue package to my parents' home. The package came from the U.S. Army, and it was addressed to my father, Thomas E. Treat, had been deceased for more than two years.Like so many young men during World War II, my father marched off to war. In 1944, at age 18, he joined the Army. By the time he turned 20, he was a battle-hardened veteran of the European theater. As a member of the armored infantry, he fought through the fringes of Austria and along the Ruhr Valley, pushing back the last of the Wehrmacht's resistance. During the early years of the Allied occupation in Germany, he served in the motor pool as both a driver and a mechanic, providing support for Army personnel and for the USO. My mother recalls that on one occasion he drove for Bob Hope, the well-known comedian and actor.When it came time for my father to return home from his last tour of duty, there was a measure of confusion at his demobilization center in the States. Records for hundreds, if not thousands, of young men had been sent to the wrong place and could not be located. After days of delay, many of these young men were handed discharge papers and told they could leave, despite the fact that their records had yet to be found. The bureaucracy could arrange for their discharge, but final pay packages, decorations, and other benefits were placed on hold. Like many other young men, my father accepted his discharge papers gratefully and returned home to his family and his girl--my mother.One delay led to another: work, marriage, family, and a fire at the central records depot where my father's military records were stored. The net result of all this was that he never received several of his military decorations.Late in his life, my father began the process of trying to correct this oversight. He wrote letters and made a series of phone calls, and he received assurances that the machinery to get him his medals had been put in motion. More than two years after her husband's death, Mother went to her mailbox and to her surprise found a package from the government containing those long overdue decorations. These included:• The European/African/Middle Eastern campaign ribbon,
• The World War II victory ribbon,
• The Army of Occupation ribbon,
• The Combat Infantry Badge, and
• The Bronze StarAs defined by the U.S. Veterans Administration, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Bronze Star are battlefield commendations for “heroic or meritorious” conduct while “engaged in action against an enemy of the United States.” My father's children and grandchildren never knew that he had earned either of these recognitions. My mother knew, but as her husband declined to talk about the darker aspects of his war experience, she never knew exactly why. That being the case, much of the history that lay behind these decorations has been lost. Their arrival after so long a delay is thus a bittersweet legacy--but a proud one.

Contributed on 1/11/22 by hawkinsdonna48
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