Obituary of Freda V. McEwen

Freda V. Love-McEwen 3/22/37-9/22/22 Mrs. McEwen was born in Gainesville, Texas in 1937, and moved with her family to Vanport, Oregon in 1943. As a child. Mrs. McEwen saw the Vanport flood dyke break. After the Vanport flood, the family relocated to a four-plex off Burnside and then was the first Black family to integrate the Eastmoreland neighborhood in 1956. Our family received death threats for many years, we remained in the neighborhood until 2012. Freda was a lifelong scholar earning several college degrees including one in Russian literature, she spoke Russian fluently and a PhD in psychiatry from the University of Oregon. Along with speaking Russian, Mrs., McEwen spoke French, and German. Mrs. McEwen was a world traveler, her favorite places were Nigeria, Morocco, and Switzerland. Mrs. Mc Ewen owned and operated Pandata Incorporated a Women owned, minority owned computer hardware and support services. With their largest contract belonging to “HUD” the federal office of housing and development. Their offices were based in Portland. She was a former basielus and active member of the Zeta Sigma Omega Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Mrs. McEwen was the first Black female employee at the downtown main post office building, and the Oregon locations of Montgomery ward. Freda’s 85 years cannot fully be summarized here, she was a formidable woman, who always reminded us how far Black America had come in her lifetime, and often reminded us of our strength. Freda’s Husband, Graham McEwen, parents Finnis Vernon Love Sr and Mildred Jackson Love, Her Aunt Rozelle Jackson Yee, and her two brothers Finnis Vernon Love Jr and Franchot Virgil Love and proceed her in death. She is survived by her sister and business partner, former Cleveland Rose Festival Princess Faith Victoria Love, me her niece Estelle Lavespere who are also members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. and her brother Franchot’s sons Edward William Love and Forrest Vernon Love and our youngest and most dear little Love, her great niece Naiyah Imani Love.