Alma Jean Freeman , 91, of Syracuse, joined her beloved husband of 70 years, Ned, in their heavenly home at 10:59 p.m. on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

Born on June 21, 1932, in Jackson County, Kentucky, she was the daughter of the late Emery and Emma (Harris) Riley.  As a small child, the family moved to Richmond, Indiana where she graduated from Richmond High School.  Continuing her education, she spent two years at the Chicago School of Interior Design laying the foundation of her life-long passion for interior design and décor.

On November 26, 1952, she married Ned W. Freeman embarking on a 70-year journey raising four children, and running a successful, renowned interior design and décor business.  Ned died on May 24, 2023.

In 1964, the couple establishing the Fabric Center in Columbia City, a retail fabric and sewing machine retail store. In 1975, Alma evolved the business to include her passion for producing draperies and selling interior décor.  The business was renamed Columbia House Interiors. They became a Pat Buckley Moss gallery and a premier drapery producer making impeccably crafted drapes and curtains. In 2003, they expanded their business, opening a store in Pierceton - Village Antique Gallerie, specializing in European antiques.  With an uncanny ability to find and secure desirable antiques throughout western Europe, the couple would make trips to inspect and purchase the items.  Alma would personally make the shipping arrangement back to their Pierceton store.  In 2012, the Columbia City location was sold, moving the business to a single location in Pierceton.

With Alma's keen sense of tasteful, elegant decor and her exceptional attention to detail, many area homes and businesses have the 'Alma touch.'   Sharing her passion with her children, she helped them to understand the science as well as the art of interior design.  At home she enjoyed growing flowers and feeding and watching the birds.  Always adventurous and fun-loving, she like to downhill ski and ride snowmobile in her young years, always of course, with the proper outerwear fashion.  A devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother she enjoyed family.

She was a fifty-year member of the Order of Eastern Star and a member of the First Baptist Church of Oswego

Surviving are her children: David Freeman of Leesburg, Ned Brent (Karen) Freeman of Warsaw, Jon Eric Freeman of Columbia City, and Michelle Renee (Patrick) Ball of Columbia City; grandchildren, Kara (Terry) Huey, Kathryn (Ted) Egly, Krista (Nathan) Shoemaker, Rachelle (Albert) Bertini, Brooke Freeman, Whitney (Jon) Mullins, Courtney (Elliott) Spann, and Chad (Krystal) Freeman; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Additionally, she was preceded in death by a brother, Gerald Riley.

The funeral service is 3 p.m. Sunday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.  Burial is next to her husband at the Oswego Cemetery. Visitation is from 1 p.m. until the service Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorials in Alma's honor are to Right to Life of North Central Indiana.