Freeman Bateman

Captain Freeman Ray Bateman, Sr., age 75, of Wewahitchka, Florida passed away January 20, 2011 in Panama City, (Bay County) Florida. He was born September 12, 1935 in Hobucken, (Pamlico County) North Carolina to Leamon Ousbon Bateman and Frances Ann (Mercer) Bateman. He graduated from Pamlico County High School in North Carolina in 1953. Freeman married Joyce Lenora Boggess on May 7, 1956 in Everglades City, Florida. Freeman was President of the Florida Keys Shrimper's Association in 1971. He was on the founding board of the Guidance Clinic of the Middle Keys. Freeman was owner of Capt. Cliff's Seafood Market, Inc. In 1970, he overturned a shrimping violation by the Supreme Court of Florida. In 1989, he won a United States Supreme Court decision contesting the State of Florida's right to control its citizens outside of the state's boundaries. This ruling was quoted to remove a proposition from the California State ballot. In 1991, Freeman won the first reversal of Administrative Judges' ruling on fishing rights. The National Marine Fisheries Council's main biologist recognized him as an expert in migratory habits of the pink shrimp in Dry Tortugas fishing grounds. Freeman lived in Marathon, Florida from 1965 to 2006 and then moved to Wewahitchka. Freeman is survived by daughter, Captain Christina D. (Tammie) Bateman Taylor and her husband, Captain Thomas Taylor of Mongmong, Guam; son, Thomas L. Bateman of Marathon, Florida; daughter, Marie F. Bateman Clark and her husband, Gary of Kinard, Florida; son, Timothy J. Bateman and his wife, Michelle of Casselberry, Florida; and son, Freeman R. Bateman, Jr. and his wife, Laurie of Lehigh Acres, Florida. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, three step -grandchildren, seven great- grandchildren, six step -great- grandchildren, and two step- great- great- grandchildren. His sister, Elsie Mae Bateman Willis of Fort Pierce, Florida and brother Leamon Bateman and his wife, Margaret of Marietta, Georgia and sister-in-law Nerys Bateman of Port St. Lucie, Florida and his sister-in-law Clarice Boggess Arecco and her husband, Eduardo Arecco of Ocoee, Tennessee. Freeman is preceded in death by his loving wife of 50 years, Joyce Lenora Boggess Bateman; his father Leamon Ousbon Bateman and his mother, Frances Ann Mercer Bateman; his brothers, Ousbon A. Bateman and John W. Bateman; his son, Raymond Patrick Bateman. A viewing will be held on Thursday, January 27th from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. at St. Lawrence Catholic Mission, 788 N Hwy. 71, Wewahitchka, Florida 32465. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, January 28th at 10 A.M. at St. Lawrence Catholic Mission, Wewahitchka, Florida with a graveside committal following at Pine Memorial Cemetery in Blountstown. The family is requesting in lieu of flowers that a memorial donation be made to The Guidance Clinic of the Middle Keys, 3000 41st Street, Marathon, Florida 33050; phone number (305) 434-9000. Freeman's and his wife, Joyce's tombstone is inscribed, "To Live In The Hearts We Leave Behind Is Not To Die".