Ozarks Healthcare Showcases Local Artist Rosie Freeman’s Mill Paintings

Ozarks Healthcare is proud to honor the legacy of local artist Rosie Augusta Grandt Freeman with the installation of her restored mill paintings, now on display inside the hospital. The collection, created in the 1980s, reflects Freeman’s deep connection to the Ozarks and her enduring passion for capturing the region’s beauty.

Freeman’s artistic roots run deep - her father and grandfather, both artists from Germany, passed down their creative talent after immigrating to the U.S. in the 1920s. After studying at the Kansas City Art Institute and working for Hallmark Cards, Freeman made her home in Thayer, Missouri, where her art flourished. Known for sketching barefoot by the railroad tracks or creating posters for community events, Freeman left an indelible mark on the region with her artistic gifts and generosity.

In 2018, when Freeman moved from Missouri to Oregon, her family rediscovered a collection of her mill paintings, once displayed in her home. Today, these pieces have found new life at Ozarks Healthcare.

“This is the perfect place for these paintings to live on,” Christine Freeman, Rosie’s daughter, who delivered the artwork to the hospital, said. “My mother loved the Ozarks, and it’s meaningful to know her work will continue to bring beauty and inspiration to others in the community she cared for so deeply.”

Josh Reeves, Vice President of Development and Advocacy at Ozarks Healthcare, shared his gratitude for the donation.

“We are honored to showcase Rosie Freeman’s art within our hospital. These paintings not only highlight the history and beauty of our region but also reflect the generosity of families like the Freemans who choose to share their loved one’s legacy with others. This installation will bring comfort and inspiration to patients, visitors, and staff for years to come.”

The paintings are now displayed in the corridor between the Shaw Building and Ozarks Healthcare’s main entrance, offering a lasting tribute to Freeman’s creativity and her love for the Ozarks.

Ozarks Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system that serves more than 160,000 residents across south-central Missouri and northern Arkansas. With its main campus residing in West Plains, Missouri, the health system offers a full spectrum of healthcare for all ages through its 114-bed hospital, behavioral health, therapies, pharmacies, rehabilitation, and home care services, along with specialty and family medicine clinics. Ozarks Healthcare has rural locations across an eight-county service area and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

Pictured from left to right: (Chris) Christine Freeman, Sammi Radosevich, Career Pathways Coordinator, and Josh Reeves, Vice President of Development and Advocacy, Ozarks Healthcare Foundation