Mr. John Gaylord “Johnny” Freeman, 73, of Mocksville died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem.

He was born in East Liverpool, Ohio, on Sept. 25, 1943, the son of the late Olen Charles Freeman and Gwendolyn Elizabeth Jones Freeman. He was raised Methodist. He graduated from East Liverpool High School iand was college educated. He joined the U. S. Navy in 1964 where he proudly served his country in the Vietnam War. He was a Purple Heart veteran. He traveled the country and around the world.  After serving his time in the military, he worked at Picoma Industries in Martins Ferry, Ohio. He was a loving husband and father who never knew a stranger. He was a jokester and loved to laugh. He had a love for sports, especially college football, and he was a die-hard Ohio State Buckeye fan. He also was an animal lover. He loved his dogs. He was a simple man, never asking for anything in life but always giving his all to others. He would give the shirt off his back to a stranger. He loved to gamble, and you would never see him without his dip of snuff. He also loved working in the yard and raising his gardens.

Survivors: his wife, Judith Ann Burch Freeman of the home; 2 sons, John Dean Freeman and William Robert “Bill” Freeman, both of Mocksville; a daughter, Debra Ann Freeman Tuttle (Jeffrey) of Mocksville; 2 grandchildren, Dakota and Josiah Tuttle; 2 sisters, Linda Freeman of East Liverpool and Laura Moore (Dewey) of Newell, W.Va., along with many brothers/sisters in law and many nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by: a brother, William “Bill” Oliver Freeman; 2 sisters, Hester “Hattie” Sanchez and Elizabeth “Betty” Bartley; and a grandchild, Johnathan Gaylord Freeman.

A celebration of life memorial service will be conducted Friday, Jan. 27 at Davie Funeral Chapel with Pastor Rowan Faye officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the time of service.

Condolences: daviefuneralservice.com.