Extracted from The La Junta Tribune Democrat (La Junta, CO)
Monday, February 13, 2012

Freida E. Amerine

Freida Walker McClain Amerine passed from this life on February 11, 2012 at the Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center, Extended Care after a long illness.

She was born on March 6, 1927 in Vernon, TX to Joseph Alpha and Edna Jordan Walker. She graduated from Vernon High School in 1944. After graduation she was employed by a ladies dress shop briefly before going to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. She left Vernon to visit relatives in Cutler, California and made her home there. She obtained employment with the Cutler Fruit Packing and Shipping Company. There she met Earl G. McClain, an ex-Merchant Mariner. He enlisted in the Universal Military Training and they were married in Cutler and her life began as an Army wife moving from Fort Ord, and Fort Bliss, Texas. After Army service, the family settled briefly in Vernon, TX before moving to La Junta, Colorado in 1952.

In La Junta Freida worked for both the Klein's grocery stores on Santa Fe and 6th & Lewis. She was employed by Western Canning Company in 1953 working in both the pickle and tomato plants. The company sent her to Purdue University Food Technology School where she studied under the Federal Food & Drug. Freida became quality-control supervisor and held that position until retiring in 1988. She married Howard Amerine in 1992 and moved to Rye, Colorado returning to La Junta in 1998 where they lived until her death.

She is survived by her husband, Howard Amerine of La Junta; two sons, Joe (Sharon) McClain of Swink and Jim (Lyda) McClain of Lubbock, TX; stepsons, Steve (Cathy) Amerine of Colorado Springs and David Amerine of Pueblo; a stepdaughter Peggy (Jesse) Stephens of Guyman, OK; sister Gwendolyn Piper of Sierra Vista, AZ; grandchildren, Jennifer (Chris) McTigue, Jerry (Nichole) McClain, Mindy (Matt) Krueger, and Travis McClain; step-granddaughters, Sonia Ruby, Delyn Lasater, Stacy Stephens, Jessica Johnson, April Stevens, and Tara Johnson; step-grandsons, Brian Goodwin, Wayne Stephens and Jared Amerine. 14 great-grandchildren, Desiree, Dakota, Brittney, Rodney, Tyler, Brennan, Haile, Dominik, Madisyn, Kylie, Baylie, Alison, Christian, Noah, Mariah, Whitney, Lidea, Levi, and Emmah.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother and a daughter, Claudia Jean.

Freida was a longtime member of the Church of Christ were she loved to sing.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of Christ of La Junta with Evangelists Terry Smalling and Danny Aragon officiating. Visitation will be Monday, February 13, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel.

With love and deepest respect Freida requested no flowers and anyone wishing to do so may make memorial contributions to the Church of Christ, 10th and Cimarron Avenue, La Junta, CO, 81050 or to the Mountain States Children Home, care of the Church of Christ direct or through the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made at www.PeacockFH.com. Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.