Obituary for Nancy Ollar

Funeral service for Nancy Ollar, 90, of Heavener is 2 p.m. Thursday at the Hontubby Baptist Church with Brother David Hardin and Brother Bob Garrett officiating. Burial will follow in Heavener Memorial Park, under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener.

Nancy was born Oct. 10, 1933 to Clarence and Flora May (Holloway) Smith in Birmingham, Alabama. She passed away Dec. 17, 2023 in Heavener. She was the second of six children. Nancy lived in Chattanooga, Tennessee until around 10 years old. She was saved at age 9 at Missionary Baptist Church and was baptized in a little river behind the church.

At age 11, she and the family moved to California for work. They were very poor as most everyone was there and worked in orchards picking cherries, peaches, apricots and then grapes. She and her siblings worked to help with finances for their parents. Once crops were over she moved home with her parents.

By the age of 16, she had moved back to CA to work. They lived in little camps, like army camps. She met L.J. Ollar there, and they dated a few months. They then were married at a double ceremony with her sister, Helen and HC Watkins on July 26, 1950. They worked a little longer and then moved back to Tennessee. Doug was born that next summer, on June 22, 1951, and Linda a couple of years later on July 27, 1953. Just 14 months later, Dennis was born Sept 28, 1954. Needless to say, Nancy was a devoted wife and busy mother.
Nancy and Jay moved to Heavener when Dennis was just a baby. They didn’t have money, so hey lived with Jay’s sister Verna and her husband Johnny Watkins. All three kids had whooping cough, and thankfully, Verna was there to help.

The family returned to California when Doug was 5 years old for work. Doug started kindergarten there, but then the family moved back to Heavener. They lived beside Granny Ollar, and all three kids attended Heavener Schools. Nancy and the kids became involved in Independence Baptist Church. She was faithful to be there every Sunday. She cleaned the church every week for several years. In 1968, Nancy and her family moved to Hodgen. Doug and Linda still attended Heavener, but Dennis went to Hodgen School for one year.

Nancy started working for the Towrys at the 5 & 10 cent Store in Heavener about 1968. She worked there until about 1975, when she went to work for Richard Steed at the IGA. She worked there until about 1990, when she became a bank teller at the First National Bank of Heavener. Jay passed away in 1996. Nancy continued working at the bank and retired in 2008 at the age of 75.

After retirement, Nancy started traveling with two of her sisters, Helen and Sharon. They were commonly known as the “Golden Girls”. Together, they traveled to Jamaica, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Acapulco. They also made several road trips to Tennessee and Florida. Nancy and Helen loved to bowl. They bowled in leagues and traveled to tournaments in Poteau, Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

Nancy’s health and eyesight started declining. She had lost almost all of her eyesight and  had an Aorta Valve Replacement 8 years ago. She recovered from a broken foot, a broken shoulder, a broken wrist and a stroke. She was hospitalized several times over the last few years and survived all to celebrate her 90th birthday Oct 10th of this year. When asked how to live a long life, Nancy said, “Trust in God and stay in Church!” Her favorite bible verse was
Isaiah 41:10 – Fear thou not; for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Her favorite color was pink and purple. Her favorite food was Coconut Shrimp. Her favorite flower was a Gerber Daisy. And, her favorite song was It Took a Miracle.

She is survived by two sons Doug Ollar and wife Becky of Oklahoma City, and Dennis Ollar and wife Judy of Tucson, Arizona; one daughter Linda Alexander and husband Gary of Heavener; five grandchildren Amy Ollar of Oklahoma City, Sarah Springer and husband Brad of Oklahoma City, Aaron Alexander and wife Jenn of Heavener, Dusty Alexander and wife Carrie of Heavener, and Rachel Krebbs and husband Jeremy of Heavener; one sister, Sharon Andrews, of Owasso; one brother, Danny Smith, of Bushnell, Florida; 14 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other loved ones, and a host of friends

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Flora Mae Smith; her husband, L.J. Ollar; two sisters Helen Watkins and Roberta Robinson; one brother, Jerry Smith; and a grandson, Gabe Ollar.

Pallbearers are her grandsons Jacob Ollar, Braden Springer, Brock Stacy, Logan Hillebrand, Kasen Krebbs, Tristan Alexander, and Kamden Krebbs.

Viewing is from noon until 6 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. until noon, Thursday.

The family will visit with friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

To sign Nancy’s online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.