Dorene Carol Freeland, 96, Belton, Missouri, formerly of Peculiar, Missouri, died Friday, May 23, 2014 at her home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 29, 2014 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, Missouri with visitation from 1:30-2:00. Burial will be in Peculiar Cemetery, Peculiar, Missouri.

Dorene was born August 1, 1917 in Pittsville, Wisconsin, the daughter of Ernest and Cora (Wilsey) Brown. She graduated from high school in Superior, Wisconsin, 1936. She earned a beautician's license after high school and owned and operated her own beauty shop in Melon, Wisconsin for several years. She eloped with her high school sweetheart, Ervine "Erv" R. Freeland, on June 26, 1939 in Carlton, Minnesota. Their daughter, Linda, was born in 1944. They moved to San Fernando, California in 1947 where they purchased and ran a motel and a newspaper stand. Their son, Mike, was born in 1947. They later sold the motel and newsstand and moved to North Hollywood, California.

Dorene learned to type and went to work as a secretary for several years and retired in 1977. She had worked in Hollywood at Movie Newsreels for 7 years. She then worked at Olive View Hospital in San Fernando, (civil service), for 11 years. They moved to Sacramento, California and were members of the Capital Christian Center gospel church. Dorene and Erv moved to Peculiar, Missouri in 1992. Dorene enjoyed keeping in touch with her many friends by phone and mail. She also enjoyed spending time with her family. She loved helping others, giving gifts, and sharing whatever and whenever she could.

Dorene was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Avis and Eloise and her husband, Erv, on October 15, 2002. She is survived by a son, Michael Freeland (Sue), Midway, Arkansas; one daughter, Linda Vaters, Peculiar, Missouri; 6 grandchildren, Steven Vaters (Jamie), Jeffrey Vaters, Tammy Stark (Darrin), Robert Vaters (Janet), David Freeland, Donald Freeland (Rebecca), and 15 great-grandchildren, Chloe Freeland, Lindsay Freeland, Sarah Freeland, Courtney Stark, Lindsay Vaters, Ashley Vaters, Cara Stark, Lexie Vaters, Kaylee Vaters, Christina Vaters, Hayden Stark, Annie Vaters, Karlie Vaters, Nick Stuckey and Katy Stuckey.