Freddy E. Savage

Freddy Savage left this earth on Saturday January 11, 2025 at the age of 83. He was born August 7, 1941 in Illinois, to Fred A and Maxine (Clarkson) Savage. They moved to Coffeyville, KS when he was 5, where he grew up and attended local schools. At a very young age, his father, a machinist and engineer at Coffeyville Continental Can taught him about cars, his first being a half-size sedan they built from spare parts out of his grandfather’s machine shop scrap pile. As a child, he drove it up and down the alley behind their house. His dad instilled in him a fascination and love for the combustible engine that stayed with him his whole life. Over the years, he owned more than one hundred automobiles, several of them he had built himself. He took great pride in taking a broken old car or truck he found in pieces, reassembling it and making it run. He built his first custom car, ”Poison Ivy”, in the early 1960’s which gained him local fame and a centerfold picture and article in Rod and Custom Magazine. 

 Fred lost his father as a teenager and soon married his high school sweetheart, Sue Wilson while still a senior at Coffeyville Field Kindly High School, and they started their own family. By 21, they had 3 children, Lynda, Becky, and Fredrick. He worked several jobs at Coffeyville, Kansas City, Independence, Western Kansas, and Wichita, before going back to school at Oklahoma Baptist University, where he earned a degree in Theology and Sociology in 1970, while working maintenance for the school. After graduation, he worked for Boys Ranch in Oklahoma, before returning to Coffeyville to be near family. The only jobs available there at the time were pumping gas and demolition for Urban Renewal, which he did along with part time preaching at rural churches, including at Longton, KS. When an opportunity arose to use his degree, he went to work for the State of KS, Dept of SRS in 1973, where he worked for nearly 30 years, first as an assistance eligibility worker. He later became a social worker for employment preparations program, and supervised for many years in both eligibility and employment preparations before retiring in 2000. Fred was definitely a “people person” and found great satisfaction in helping others. He always saw the value and potential in his fellow-man and woman, and he knew he could help them find it in themselves. He applied that same passion for uplifting and restoring to everything around him. No house was too run-down and no car was too far gone for him to not want to rebuild, restore, or just appreciate as it was. 

 Fred’s marriage to Sue ended in divorce in the 70’s when their kids were all teenagers and he truly learned what it took to be a single parent. In 1978, he married Barbee Kissinger, and they later adopted two baby girls, Jessie and Katy. Fred and Barb both worked for Montgomery Co SRS, Fred retiring in 2000, and Barb in 2011. He continued to work part time for Montgomery Co Four Co Mental Health as a case manager until 2007. 

 Fred lived a life filled with passion, joy, and a commitment to his faith. He was a proud husband to Barbee, who remains in their home, and a loving father to Lynda Harder (husband, Ronald Jr), and Rebecca Savage, (who have both preceded him in death), also Fredrick Savage (wife, Elysia) of Monett, MO, Jessica Savage, and Kathryn Savage (fiancé, Kendall Thompkins) all of Ottawa. God and his family were his everything, and he cherished every moment spent with his grandchildren, Dean (Chressa) and Craig Harder, Jeremy Teehee (Mindy), Aariel, Adrial, and Tillie Savage, Kinzy Stevens, and Alexis and Ariana Christian, also great-grandchildren, Mason, Landon, Christopher, Jude, Alexa Grace, and Jaxon. He was also preceded in death by his parents and brother, Earl B Wright. 

 Fred’s love extended far beyond his immediate family. He was a village dad to many while his children were growing up, providing guidance, support, unconditional love and even a bed and place at the table to countless young people in his community. His door was always open and his heart always willing to lend a listening ear or a helping hand. 

 When he wasn’t spending time with his loved ones Freddy could be found working on his beloved hot rods or cheering on his favorite football team. His passions brought him joy, but it was his family that brought him true fulfillment. 

 Fred’s legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched. His family, friends, and community will deeply miss him, but they take comfort in knowing that he is at peace, with his Lord. 

 Fred’s Celebration of Life will be held at Coffeyville Church of Christ. The date has not been set as yet. 

To share your memories of Freddy or to send a special condolence message to his family, please visit the guestbook below.