James E. DeFreese, 79

December 1, 2011

Interment will be held this summer at Peone Cemetery in Mead for Spokane Deer Lake resident James E. DeFreese, 79, who passed away on Nov. 22.
Born on Feb. 25, 1932, to the late Bill and Vera DeFreese, he was captain of the Mead High School 1949 football team and graduated from MHS in 1950.
Mr. DeFreese established DeFreese Roofing and ran it successfully for almost 50 years. He and his crew roofed many Spokane area homes built in the 1950s through the 1990s.
He married Jaclyn S. Bartleson in 1950 and although they later divorced, they remained lifelong friends.
He served as PTA president and more recently, chaired the Julius Terrace (Deer Lake) Neighborhood Association.
He was a member of the Inland Empire Shetland Pony Club, Family Motor Home Coach Association, and Spokane Corvette Club.
He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Lauri Marie DeFreese; a brother, Gary DeFreese; and a sister, Anna Mae Henry.
He is survived by three children, Sandie (Scott) Eymer, Mike (Denise) DeFreese and Robin DeFreese, all in the Spokane area; seven grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.