Broadbent, Fred

Word from Jerry Broadbent, Fred's son: My father Fred Broadbent passed away last night, February 5th at 9:20 pm. He was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of the lungs in late December. My father moved from Pampa in the late 60's I believe. He originally moved to Oklahoma City and then to Moore. He and his brother Wayne had some good stories of their childhood friends (a great one about Albert King, who seems like quite a character).

Fred Monroe Broadbent, faithful Husband, loving Father and proud Grandpa was born June 26, 1939 in Pampa, Texas. He passed from this life on February 5, 2007 after a short battle with lung cancer. He married his one true love Bettie Joyce Yandell on March 6, 1961. Fred was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Geraldine and his sister Sue. He is survived by his loving wife Bettie of the home; daughter Elizabeth with friend Jason; daughter April; son with his wife Jerry and Shanna- and their three children, the pride of Fred's life: Taylor (age 6), William (age 3) and newborn Emily; brothers Wayne with wife Goldie, Jim with wife Jimmie, Charles with wife Margaret, and their families, including numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. The family would like to express heartfelt appreciation to the staff of Norman Regional Hospital Oncology and ICU for their wonderful care given during Fred's last month of life. We love you and miss you, Papa. Funeral Services will be held at 2 PM Friday, Feb. 9, 2007 in the Primrose Funeral Service Chapel. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park.

Note. A memorial website has been generated and may be viewed at this URL:

Anecdotes from Albert King. (Albert was contacted as a result of Jerry's mention of his name. Here is what Albert had to say.)
Yes indeed, I remember Fred Broadbent quite well. He was enrolled in B. M Baker school on the south side of Pampa when I transferred in the 5th grade from Horace Mann. I lived on South Cuyler and he lived on a street just 4 blocks away ... 608 Brunow, I believe.

I knew him not only from school at Baker, but through Junior High and on to high school. He went to the Salvation Army Church and also the Calvary Baptist with me. He worked at the Pampa Daily News, first as a route carrier then later in the circulation department, just as I. We worked together and went to school together through the 9th grade, but I think Fred dropped out of school sometime during our sophomore year.

I saw Fred off and on through my senior year and distinctly remember when he, his brother Wayne, Lupe Hernandez, Gene McCracken, Angel Gonzales, and Charles Gurley and I slipped over the fence at the Pampa Swimming Pool at 2 am in the morning and went skinny dipping. Someone called the police, and it was like "moon river" all over again as we came humping it out of the water and scaling the fence to flee. We managed to escape, but it was without our clothes. And we sure did have a wild time riding bicycles and driving motor scooters to get home. That was the last fling and frolic among many , many that I had with Fred and his brother Wayne.

It does not surprise me at all that he told his son that I was "quite a character". We did so many crazy, zany, cut up things together, and Fred always let me know that if we got caught, it was definitely all my fault!!! That included everything from knocking on doors and running through riding bulls out in the pasture about one mile from his house to using a lead pencil on each other's spark plugs to ground out the ignition so the engine would not start.

ps. I have had many fond thoughts of Fred throughout the years and recall when I was attending a Chicago Bears game in l985 how "Refrigerator Perry" reminded me of him. When push came to shove, coach Ditka would use the "fridge" to barrel through for about 5 yards. That was how Fred played in the old sandlot field out behind the Salvation Army. Whose ever side he was on was sure to win the game for Fred towered up to around 6' 3" and weighed 250+.

A follow-up word from April Broadbent (an email to Albert King and copying Mike): Thank you so much for your contributions to Dad’s memorial service. The pastor read Albert’s email at the service and it was wonderful. Mom told some more stories too.