Ura Claire Oliver

What if you were a high school student whose biology teacher could beat you at golf, tennis, tell you the latest score of the OU football or basketball game and what position they were in the standings and then show you how to identify the organs of the body using a preserved fetal pig? If so, you would have most likely said my teacher was Claire Oliver who taught biology in Miami Oklahoma from 1961 – 1978. Ura Claire Oliver was born January 13, 1921 in Iola, Kansas where she attended Junior College from 1939- 1941. When our country was drawn into WWII, many women worked jobs as telephone operators. Few women worked as telephone operators from 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm then carried 18 credits hours at a major university. Accordingly, Claire Oliver earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Bacteriology from the University of Kansas in 1943. During her Junior Year at KU, she gained permission from her professors to take three weeks off to marry her hometown sweetheart, Bill Oliver, who was now a Navy pilot stationed in Oakland, California. They were married March 23, 1942 in Reno, Nevada and Mrs. Oliver stayed with her husband for another two weeks until he left for his tour in the South Pacific. Claire received a telegram from Lieutenant Commander Bill Oliver as she walked toward the stadium to receive her diploma in May 1943 saying he was back in the states. Bill and Claire then traveled to Putaxent River Maryland Naval Base where Bill was a test pilot and Claire worked in the dispensary. In December 1945, Claire, Bill and their newborn daughter, moved to Miami, Oklahoma where Bill started a business and Claire stayed at home to raise their daughter and their son who was born in Miami. While her children were in grade school, Claire started playing golf and recruited the entire family to participate in the sport. Unfortunately for her family, Claire somehow always ended up with the lowest score. When her children were older, Claire started her teaching journey with trips to Pittsburg Kansas State College where she received her teaching certificate. Shortly after beginning her teaching career, Claire received prestigious summer study grants from the National Science Foundation held at San Jose State University and Southern Methodist University. Back in Miami, Claire one again found the energy to work while studying, this time her studying matched her work. Claire would rise early in the morning to study before heading off to school to teach. She completed her Masters Degree in Biology in 1963. Mrs. Oliver gave back to her profession by being President of the Miami Association of Classroom Teachers. Her former students can be found today teaching in the high school classroom with another student being a Ph.D. professor doing research for alzheimer’s disease. When Claire sees one of her former students, they often say to her you were the best teacher I had. After her retirement, Claire and Bill continued to play golf and travel. Claire was an active member of the Ottawa County Retired Educators Association and continues to play a role in her church and her PEO Chapter. Now at 90 years old, if Mrs. Oliver could see a little bit better and grip the club a little tighter, she would still be able to give her students a run for their money on the golf course. Mrs. Oliver’s Family Daughter, Diana Carter and husband John Carter of Norman, Oklahoma. Grand-Daughter Deborah Fung and husband Archon of Boston, Massachusetts, Grandson Steven Smith of Dallas, Texas Son Bill Oliver and his wife Genet D’Arcy of Boulder, Colorado Grand-daughter Jennifer Liming and husband Duane of Asheville, North Carolina Grandson Billy Oliver and Laurie Williams of Salt Lake City, Utah, Great-grandchildren, Alexander Fung, Zachary Fung of Boston, Massachusetts, Morgan Smith, Madison Smith, Mason Smith of Dallas, Texas. Visitation will be on Sunday, April 13, 2014 from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM at the Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Miami. Mrs. Oliver’s services will be 10:00 AM on Monday, April 14, 2014 at the First Christian Church’s Chapel in Miami. Interment will follow at the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery under the care of Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Miami. Friends and family may send the family notes of encouragement by viewing Mrs. Oliver’s Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com.

Ura Claire Oliver

January 13, 1921 - April 10, 2014