Freda D. Anderson, 83, died peacefully in Barton House, Austin, Texas, on Thursday March 29, 2007, surrounded by loving friends and family. Freda Delores McKeny (or "Mac" as she was known to her friends) was born June 29, 1923, in Milton, West Virginia. She grew up during the Depression as the youngest daughter of a railroad engineer and one of eight siblings. She started nursing school during the height of WWII, joining the Army nurse corps after graduation. She was on a troop ship bound for Europe when V-E day was declared and returned to the states to care for wounded troops returning from Europe. In an Army hospital stateside, she met a young First Lieutenant recently returned from the European theater. Lieutenant Powell "Andy" Anderson, would become her husband in a full military wedding a year later. For the next 15 years, Andy and Freda celebrated their wedding anniversary in a different country each year. Their second anniversary, they traveled to Shanghai, China, being among the last Westerners to visit China until President Nixon traveled there in 1972. The late 1950's found them in Germany where adopted their only child, a son, Eric Powell Anderson. With the adoption finalized, they returned to the U.S. on the luxury liner U.S.S. United States in 1959 and settled in Chicago, Illinois for Colonel Anderson's last military post. Following his retirement from the military, they settled on a 60 acre farm in the Missouri Ozarks, Bois D'Arc. There they raised their son along with polled Herford cattle, horses, and an assortment of various farm animals. There they would stay until Andy's death in 1990. Throughout her life she was generous with her time and her causes and active in the Bois D'Arc community. President of the Bois D'Arc PTA, Freda also formed the first 4-H club in the area; and, later in life, a quilting group that made quilts for charity. She was instrumental in forming the first girl's shelter for runaway and abandoned teen girls in Springfield, Mp., as well as helping create, and serve on the board of, other civic organizations to help the poor and disadvantaged. In 1994, Freda moved to Austin to be near her son and grandson, Brandon and to help Eric, a single father, care for Brandon. She became involved in the Covenant United Methodist church in Austin, becoming a frequent volunteer and organizing Friday "Fun Day" for the seniors and participating in other activities. In July of 2005 she moved to Barton house where she continued caring for those less fortunate than herself and making everyone else smile and laugh. Graveside services at the National Cemetery will be held Monday, April 2 under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor should be made to the Alzheimer's Research foundation.