Oliver P. Holderread, a longtime Cushing business man, passed away Thursday, April 24, 2014 in the Cushing Hillcrest Hospital at the age of 93 years.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Palmer Marler Funeral Home in Cushing. A celebration of Oliver’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 29, 2014 in the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Cushing with Dr. Larry Haney and Pastor Sonny Johnston officiating. Burial will be in the Euchee Valley Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 27 and on Monday, April 28 from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the Palmer Marler Funeral Home, Cushing, OK.
The son of the late Fred Oliver Holderread and Melda (Holsinger) Holderread, Oliver was born in Agra, OK. He grew up in the Cushing area, attending Cottonwood school and Cushing public schools. He graduated with the class of 1939 from Cushing. While in high school Oliver delivered milk in the Cushing area. This one job started his career of serving the great community of Cushing and its residents.
On December 25, 1940, Oliver married the love of his life, Oretta G. Holder in Drumright, OK and to this union three children, Anita Sue, Jerry, and Larry, were born. Shortly after Anita Sue was born, Oliver entered into the United States Army, serving during WWII. Oliver returned to Cushing after receiving his honorable discharge.
The first venture into business for the Holderread’s was in 1946 when they opened Cushing Lumber on the same Main Street site that once housed Holderread Grocery. In 1958 they started Superior Drilling Mud Company and later opening Cushing Truss Company. In 1974 they launched Cushing Mini Storage with partner Dick Wheeler.
Oliver had been a member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for over 50 years serving as an elder and deacon for many of those years and honored with the Elder Emeritus standing within the Church. Oliver was a Master Mason of the Cushing Masonic Lodge # 111 and a 32 Degree Scottish Rite Mason member at the Guthrie Consistory, member of the Cushing Lion’s Club for over 50 years, and a member of the American Legion Post 108 in Cushing.
Everyone that knew Oliver knew of his passion for promoting the community of Cushing and as one of Cushing’s greatest supporters and endorsers, Oliver always worked at presenting Cushing to everyone he met. He always stayed active in the Cushing Chamber of Commerce and had served on the Cushing Industrial Board. He loved playing bridge, hunting, and attending as many activities that his grandchildren and great grandchildren were involved in. Oliver and Oretta did everything they could to get their family together, whether it was at church, Sunday dinner or a weekend at the lake. Their favorite memories and times were always with their family and friends.
Oliver is survived by his three children, Anita Sue Medlock and her husband James, Jerry Holderread and his wife Judy and Larry Holderread and his wife Vicki, all of Cushing; one sister, Twyla Pitts of Sand Springs, OK; grandchildren, Tiffany Holden and her husband Gray, Meggan Carr and her husband Bryan, Kim McKnight and her husband Steve, Kristi Carpenter and her husband Robert, Kelly Holderread and his wife Paula, Kevin Holderread and his wife Kerry, Brian Holderread and his wife Lacy, Ryan Blakemore and his wife Jillian, Lisa Philpott and her husband Brian and Robyn Jones and her husband Kevin; great-grandchildren, Braxton Holden, Graycen Holden, Emerson Holden, Blake Carr, Brady Carr, Cole McKnight, Mackenzie McKnight, Alexys McKnight, Sam Carpenter, Sophi Kate Carpenter, Conner Holderread, Chloe’ Holderread, Kade Holderread, Kennedy Holderread, Caelan Holderread, Alexanna Holderread, Brittan Blakemore, Barrett Blakemore, Kate Philpott, Brie Philpott, Paisley Philpott, Mattie Jones and Mia Jones and numerous other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, Oliver was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Oretta and one sister, Alta Carter.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Cushing Lion’s Memorial Eye Glass Fund (P.O. Box 687, Cushing, OK 74023) or to the Cushing Regional Hospital Foundation (P.O. Box 1496, Cushing, OK 74023) in Oliver’s name.
Condolences and an online guestbook are available at www.PalmerMarlerFH.com
