Freida L. Conrad, 88, a retired Parsons elementary school teacher, died at 3:45 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, at Elmhaven East nursing home in Parsons.

She was born Oct. 25, 1921, in Parsons to Ralph S. and Reba F. (Russell) Brown. Her father died in a work-related accident when she was a small child, and she was raised by her mother and stepfather, Oran Mathis. She attended Parsons schools, graduated from the Galesburg High School in 1940 and also graduated from Parsons Junior College and Pittsburg State University, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

She taught in rural schools for four years in Shawnee for four years and at Garfield Elementary School in Parsons for 31 years.

Freida was a member of the Church of the Nazarene, the Round Table Study Club and the Don’t Dodge Difficulty Family and Community Education Unit. She enjoyed reading, oil painting and working with antiques. She especially enjoyed music and doing volunteer work at area nursing homes.

On June 6, 1961, she married Lloyd Conrad. He preceded her in death on March 8, 1992.

Survivors include a sister, Nadine Stevenson of Parsons; two brothers, Marvin Mathis of Newton and Russell Mathis of Parsons; several nieces and nephews; and four stepchildren, Mary Wise of Parsons and Jim Conrad, David L. Conrad, and Lois Shields, all of Athens, Texas.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Vinetta Chickadonz and Pat Kimrey; two stepbrothers, Howard Mathis and Homer Mathis; and a stepson, Joe Conrad.

The service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Church of the Nazarene, 3100 Wilson, Parsons. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to Church of the Nazarene and may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.