Clive Edward Jared

Clive Edward Jared was born on July 13, 1928 in Ada, Oklahoma to Thomas Jefferson and Laura Maude Jared. He departed this life on August 14, 2023 at the age of 95, one month, and one day.

Clive graduated from Ada High School in 1947 and was known in the community as a stellar athlete in the sport of basketball. He was impressive as being a fast runner, never giving up at the sight of defeat, learned from his mistakes, didn't give up at the sound of the buzzer, never complained about playing time, and was an excellent team player. Moreover, he had a strong mind that was balanced with good common sense. Failure was not an option in his personal goals. These attributes would serve him well throughout his life and especially when he accepted his call to become a minister of the gospel of Christ.

He first set eyes on a real natural beauty - a little brunette named Miss Ovella Jones, during a church Mother's Day program in Allen, Oklahoma, when they were both only about ten-years-old. Ovella noticed Clive's big brown expressive eyes and started referring to him as that "cute little brown-eyed-boy" at the church. Clive lived in Allen, which was nineteen miles from Ada where Ovella lived. That Mother's Day program was the last time they saw each other until the Jared family moved from Allen to Ada when Clive entered high school some years later.

He was pleasantly surprised when he caught a glimpse of that little brunette, Ovella, all grown up and even more beautiful, in the halls of Ada High and recognized her as the pretty little ten-year-old he had flirted in Allen so many years ago.

Ironically, Ovella noticed that brown-eyed-boy was looking her way and their love story ignited right there in the school very quickly! They were united in holy matrimony on July 6, 1947, in Allen, Oklahoma after graduating, both being eighteen-years-old, and started their life together enjoying one another for sixty-seven happy years.

Clive was called into the ministry when he was only eighteen years old. He never doubted his calling and, without hesitation, accepted his first appointment to the Worstell Church of God of Prophecy which was a very small country church outside of Ada. They set up a household in the small parsonage with orange crates as furniture, without the modern conveniences of a bathroom, a telephone or other amenities. Many times, Clive would hunt for rabbits and squirrels for Ovella to cook for dinner because there wasn't a salary that went along with the job. Clive was blessed to secure a fine, upstanding shoe salesman job at Shipe's Shoe Store and because they didn't own a car, he would hitch hike 12 miles each way into Ada to provide for his family.

On a humorous note, only Clive Jared could get away with his creative ways to take up an offering to keep the church utilities paid. Several ladies who were members of the church came faithfully and their husbands would drive them to the church. During the service the husbands would sit outside around their pick-up trucks and shoot the breeze with each other. Dad, desperate to keep the utilities paid each month, would send the ushers outside and pass the offering plate among the husbands and make sure they received the blessing of giving!

Clive and Ovella continued their ministry in many areas of the United States and some foreign countries. They pastored five churches in the State of Oklahoma, which included Worstell, East Tulsa, Sapulpa, Broken Arrow, and Coweta. Clive served as Oklahoma Camp Director for eighteen years and served as Oklahoma Youth Secretary mentoring hundreds of young people throughout the years. Many of those young people are now serving as pastors and leaders in churches everywhere.

He was appointed from the Church of God of Prophecy General Headquarters to serve as State Overseer in Colorado, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma, and Virginia. They have left a legacy of serving people, faithfulness in their responsibilities, and living authentically to the Gospel.

Clive and Ovella had three girls; Adana Kaye, Debra Ann, and Karron Lynn who, in turn, blessed their parents with three sons-in-law; Wayne Pense, Terry Stone, and Jerry Stone. They treated these sons as their own children and loved them very much.

Subsequently, five grandchildren came along in order of Devin Wayne Pense, Brian Keith Pense, Tiffany Nicole Richter, Jared Rylie Stone, and Bradley Lynn Stone. These five grandchildren brought them much joy and happiness. Added to the Jared generational family are twelve great-grandchildren and six (almost seven) great-great-grandchildren of which great-great-grandpa Jared was blessed to live and see.

All of Clive's siblings, his beloved Ovella, and his first son-in-law, Wayne Pense, preceded him in death, as well as numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

Clive thrived in ministry for over 75 years until he was unable to travel or speak due to failing health. He never forgot how to pray or love his family. He was a faithful husband and father, grandfather, pastor, and mentor. He and Ovella intentionally left a rich heritage of the knowledge of Christ and His Word to their children, grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. It was the desire of their hearts that each generation will be intentional to serve Christ, keep His commandments, statutes, and holy precepts so that we can all join together on that great reunion day, never to be separated throughout eternal ages.

Visitation will be Thursday, August 17, 2023 from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm at Brown Funeral Home in Coweta, Oklahoma. A private family service will follow to honor his memory. He will be buried at Vernon Cemetery in Coweta.

Family and friends may share memories online at www.brownfamilycares.com. The family of Clive Edward Jared entrusted his care and services to Brown Funeral Home & Cremations, 210 S. Broadway, Coweta, Oklahoma 74429, 918-486-5515.