Olive Mae (Christman) Avery
Jan 23, 1919 - Jan 6, 2016
Posted by Jo Aguirre

http://perrycares.com
 
Olive Cristman Avery passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family, on January 6, 2016, just 17 days before her 97th birthday. Arrangements are under the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home of Perry. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, January 11, 2016 at Lucien United Methodist Church, Lucien, Oklahoma.

Interment will follow at the McGuire Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 10, 2016 at Palmer Marler Funeral Home, Perry, Oklahoma

Olive was born Olive Mae Cristman, on January 23, 1919, to Roy and Lucy Carl Cristman on a farm in Noble County, OK near Lucien. This farm is now known as the Mills-Cristman Centennial Farm, which was homesteaded by Olive's great-grandparents, George W. and Cynthia LaClair Mills in the Cherokee Strip land run in 1893. Olive attended Twin Mound Grade School North of Lucien through eighth grade, playing on the boys' baseball team because there were not enough boys to make a team. Olive attended high school at Hayward, OK. She and her sister, Edith, rode horse back to and from school.

Olive married Estel Avery of Covington, OK. They were married for 51 years, until his death in 1985. They had nine children: Barbara, Jim, Roger, Peggy, Steve, Mark, Paul, Cindy, and Lisa, all of whom survive, along with 21 grandchildren, 31 great- grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

She was also preceded in death by her sister Edith I. Avery.

Olive traveled around the country with her husband for many years with their children while he worked for a seismograph company and later in oil and mineral exploration. Estel consistent traveling work in these fields prompted Olive to teach herself how to drive, a grand adventure for a young farm girl.

They then settled in the Noble and Garfield county area. Olive developed many needle work and craft skills during this time, including quilting, making and dressing a large collection of dolls, upholstering. She also collected a large number of antique oil lamps.
After living in the Noble county area for a number of years they moved to the Western United States; Colorado and then Utah. After many years of living in the Moab Valley she became co-owner of a wholesale distribution company and became active in the National Business and Professional Women’s Foundation where she served as President for 2 terms and in 1978 was awarded Woman of the Year. Olive was an avid photographer, member of the Arbor Day Foundation and the Oklahoma Historical Society, among others. She was a loving supportive mother and doting grandmother. Olive held all of her family close to her heart! With Olive, you were either born or brought into the family and she loved you dearly.

She returned to her roots in Oklahoma and had been living in Perry, Oklahoma for more than a decade at the time of her passing.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Oklahoma Historical Society in the name of Olive Cristman Avery, in care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home, P.O. Box 189, 203E. Fir Ave., Perry, Oklahoma 73077.