Margaret Ann Mattingly Freeman

Born in Washington, DC on August 23, 1933,

Margaret Ann Mattingly Freeman was the only child of Roger Louis Mattingly and Ida Heller Gadd Mattingly.

Margaret grew up rooted in faith and family, attending River Road Presbyterian Church with her parents. With family living in neighboring states, Margaret and her parents gathered with them, keeping ties close. She enjoyed studying ballet as a young girl, performing in the school's productions. Vacationing at St. Augustine, Florida in the late 1930’s - 1940’s became part of Margaret’s treasures memories.

During her younger education, Margaret attended Janney Elementary School. During World War II, she wore dog tags and experienced air raid drills. Later she continued on at Woodrow Wilson High School in Tinleytown. Completing her education, Margaret graduated from Westminster College in Pennsylvania. She joined the sorority of Alpha Gamma Delta in her freshman year, belonging all four years. She experienced life in the sorority house her sophomore and junior years. Margaret received her Bachelor of Arts in Business in 1955.

After college, Margaret found adventure in Europe, traveling with her girlfriend. They flew there and boarded an ocean liner home. Margaret bought Hummels, collected spoons, and expanded her gold charm bracelets.

Upon entering the workforce, Margaret proudly remembers her time at the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. Along with this, Margaret fondly cites growing up in Washington, DC, her hometown.

A few years later, Margaret met the love of her life, Stephen Freeman III, through the young adults group at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. In a unique proposal on April 1st, Stephen wrote and asked Margaret to watch Gunsmoke with him from then on. Margaret and Stephen married on September 10, 1960 in the Lincoln Chapel of the same church of their first meeting. They honeymooned in Williamsburg, Virginia when their trip took a spontaneous detour to see Stephen's grandparents in Syracuse, Indiana. Margaret often spoke of that special meeting. When the network cancelled Gunsmoke, Margaret wondered, “what happens now?”. Their marriage lasted 49 ⅔ years! Celebratory!

The life Margaret and Stephen built together carried them from the East Coast to the West Coast, first Florida, then New Jersey, and eventually to Ridgecrest, California, where they made their lifelong home, raising their four children.

For many years of Margaret's life, the role of wife, mother, and grandmother took precedence, being her greatest calling. Each one felt her love, being cared for, and supported by her prayers. Margaret poured her heart into her family, filling the home with warmth, love, faith, and contagious laughter.

Her family remembers Margaret's love of reading, ending one book to start another. On one cross country trip driving to Washington, DC, she read the Little House on the Prairie books. Margaret, being ahead of her time, was the voice of audio books for her family. Margaret also loved keeping in touch with family and friends, keeping alive the art of correspondence writing with a pen.

In 1981, East meets West came to be, when Margaret's mother moved from Washington, DC to the Ridgecrest home. Margaret joined with Ida to check out the yard sales each week and the thrift stores almost every day. Margaret and Ida enjoyed cruises to Hong Kong and Alaska together. More fun happened when Margaret would save on groceries with coupons. She used the extra saved to take Senior charter trips to Stateline, Nevada for a little slot action.

In church life, Margaret deeply involved herself with singing in choirs, leading Bible studies, serving and praying for others, supporting activities, and praying faithfully.

What made Margaret: her gentle spirit, bright smile, and steady kindness. She touched everyone who knew her. Her family describes her character as being loving, prayerful, thoughtful, and compassionate.

Margaret's legacy lives on in the family she nurtured and the faith she carried every day.

Preceding Margaret in death were her parents: Louis in 1980 and Ida in 2005. Her husband, Stephen, passed in 2010. Margaret followed him this year on February 3, 2026. Margaret and Stephen’s surviving children are: Katie (Mike) Watt, Steve (Debby) Freeman IV, David Freeman, and Beth (Tony) Pierce. Grandchildren are: Abe (Jenny) Dandy, Peter Dandy, and Michelle (Jeramy) Dandy, Jason Freeman, Justin Freeman, and Liberty Pierce. Great-grandchildren are Summer Dandy, Logan McMillan and Dylan Dandy.