Gaylen Sue Freeman

Gaylen Sue Freeman, 82, passed away Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She made her home in Sallisaw, Oklahoma for 30 plus years. She was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Sunday, April 11, 1943, to the late Mount Lonzalo Short and Mary Belle (McCullough) Willis.

Gaylen was employed in many different fields during her life, including banking and the medical field, but the most important job was always that of a wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker.

Gaylen had many passions and hobbies in her life, which include horseback riding, hunting, fishing, farming, crocheting and reading. She also loved watching her favorite show, “The Curse of Oak Island”. Hopefully, the question of the treasure has been revealed to her.

Those left to cherish her love and memories are: one son, Darrell Wade Hampton and wife Jazan of Odessa, Texas and one daughter, Cathrin Elizabeth (Freeman) Owens and husband Mark of Sallisaw, Oklahoma; one stepson, James Preston Freeman of Odessa, Texas; six grandsons, Shannon Hampton, Michael Hampton, Cody Hampton, Dakota Hampton and Quay Hampton all of Odessa, Texas and Garrett Hatcher of Sallisaw, Oklahoma; six bonus grandchildren, Shelby Freeman, Chantel Freeman, Ejay Freeman, Lindsey Owens, Jessy Owens, Sierra Otero; 23 great grandkids and one great-great grandchild; one brother, Lynn Short and wife Cricket of Paden, Oklahoma and many nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Dewey Lonzalo Short and David Joe Short; two sisters-in-law, Judy Marie Short and Jaynie Short; one son, Shannon Charles Hampton; two husbands, Bobby Willis Hampton and James Derwood Freeman.

Forever Memories Funeral Services will be holding a visitation on Monday, February 23, 2026, between 6 P.M. to 8 P.M.

Funeral services will be on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 10 A.M. in the Sequoyah Memorial Chapel at Forever Memories Funeral Services, Inc., 463505 Hwy 101, Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Interment will follow at Peters Cemetery.

To sum up, Gaylen Freeman was a strong-willed, independent woman who lived life to the fullest. She was loved by many and will be dearly missed.