In Memory of Oleta Taylor

Martha Oleta Taylor was born on August 11, 1926 in Marlow, Oklahoma to Thelbert Franklin Hamilton and Polly Mildred (Bradley) Hamilton.

After 94 years, Oleta left this earthly home and moved to her heavenly mansion on Sunday, December 27, 2020.

She married Donald J. Taylor on December 10, 1949 in Lawton, Oklahoma. They were married for 39 years and God blessed their marriage with four children.

Don pastored several churches and Oleta was always the “behind-the-scenes” helper. She was a homemaker with four children and still found time to help in the church nursery, the church kitchen or cleaning the church building. The children always knew when they got out of school and finally went home, their mom was going to be there with snacks and a hug. What a blessing!

Oleta loved her kids- all of them- and they all thought they were her favorite! Her four kids, grand kids and great grandkids, she loved them all. Every year for her birthday she would ask for the same thing, “I just want my kids to sing,” she would say. So, her four children would gather around the piano, Jan would play, and they would sing many of the old gospels that Oleta loved. That was all she wanted, and she always beamed with pride each year as her kids would fulfill her birthday wish.

Summertime meant summer camps and Oleta would take on the responsibility of planning and preparing the meals for upward of 150 children or youth. Some of the children seldom had a home cooked meal. When Oleta cooked they go homemade cinnamon rolls, biscuits and gravy, eggs, hash browns, and that was just breakfast!

She later worked at the Oklahoma Baptist Children’s Home in Owasso, Oklahoma in the Maternity Home section. While there she got to teach the young ladies how to cook, as well as care for their new borns. She enjoyed that work, but her age caught up with her and she retired while at the Owasso Home. She had an apartment at the retirement home and continued living there for over thirty years. She moved to Tulsa and lived there for a short time in 2018. Her health continued to decline, so her oldest daughter, Jan, took Oleta into her home in Stigler. Later she moved to Lawton into an assisted living home where her brother, Glen, lived directly across the hall. It was a great time for Oleta and her younger brother to reconnect and spend some time together. Once again, her health was diminishing, and the family knew it was time for another move. The family was blessed to find a wonderful and caring place in McAlester that treated Oleta like a part of their family. Oleta lived there until her passing. The family is thankful to the Belfair facility.

Oleta is survived by her children: Dan Taylor and wife, Connie of Jenks, Jan Gragg and husband, Tom of Stigler, Leah McLaughlin and husband, Brian of Poteau, and Stephanie Weston and husband, Danny of Wilburton; brother: Glen Hamilton of Lawton; fifteen grandchildren, thirty-five great grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, other family and a host of friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Thelbert and Polly Hamilton; and her brother: Curtis Hamilton.

A visitation with family will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at The Bob Waldrop Memorial Chapel at Waldrop Funeral Home.

The graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 4, 2021 at Centerpoint Cemetery with Rev. Willard Francis officiating. Services are under the direction of Waldrop Funeral Home, Wilburton.

In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to:

Baptist Children’s Home

12700 E. 76th Street

Owasso, Oklahoma 74055