Oleta M. McCalip

Oleta Maxine McCalip, 90, went to her heavenly home on Thursday, January 19, 2017, in Shawnee.  Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 25 at Blackburn Chapel Baptist Church with Rev. Larry Sparks officiating.  Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery. The daughter of Roma (Robertson) Coleman King and Andrew Wooldridge King, Oleta was born April 24, 1926 in Seminole County.  She grew up in Shawnee and attended Shawnee schools.  She was the youngest and last survivor of eight girls and one boy.  She married her husband, Gene McCalip, in July of 1941.  Gene served in the United States Army during World War II while his young bride waited for his return.  They were married 70 years before Gene passed away in 2011.  Oleta worked 17 years at C.R. Anthony’s in Shawnee and later worked in the cafeteria at Bethel School where the children called her Grandma. Soon all the faculty and staff also called her Grandma.  She retired from Bethel School.  She was a wonderful Christian woman and a longtime member of Blackburn Chapel.  Her children and grandchildren were her greatest joy, and they have wonderful memories of their time spent with her and Gene.  She loved company and was always glad to see her many nieces and nephews come for a visit and a cup of coffee.  She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved a good laugh. Oleta was preceded in death by her husband, Gene, her two sons, Allen and Ron McCalip; a grandson, Gary; her parents; seven sisters and one brother. She is survived by her daughter-in-law Jan McCalip; her grandsons and their wives, Shannon (Mary) McCalip, Jason (Melissa) McCalip; Cris (Tara) McCalip and Lance McCalip; granddaughter Heather McCalip; great-grandchildren Shana, Kaitlyn, Carllie, David, Dylan, and Kylie; and nieces, nephews and other family and friends.  She will be missed by all.