Olen Secrist

Olen Paul Secrist, 92 of Broken Arrow, passed from this life on March 6, 2018. He was born October 15, 1925 in Vern Station, Oklahoma, to Edward and Esther Secrist. He joined the local, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and following that he joined the United States Army and served his country during World War II. Olen met the love of his life, Elva, in a strawberry patch. They were married on May 2, 1946 and were married for 70 years. There were several things Olen loved in life besides the love for his family, the main one being his love for eating catfish! He had an uncanny ability to eat more catfish than thought possible for one human being. There seem to be a bottomless pit when it came to his favorite food, no sides, just give him the fish. Of course it was only natural that with his love of catfish, camping and fishing would follow as other joys of his life. As he got older and couldn't camp and fish like he once did, he devoted much time to another love, gardening. He enjoyed eating vegetables, fresh from the garden and also sharing them with his family and friends. Curtis welded his favorite hoe back together so many times he lost track. Another love that Olen held in high esteem was the love for his church, where he was a member for 63 years and during that time served in many different capacities, doing what he could to do to serve God and his church. Olen was loved and will be missed by his family, church family, and many friends. Olen is survived by his daughter, Christine Bailey of Broken Arrow, his son, Curtis Secrist and his wife Linda of Broken Arrow, granddaughters, Angie Battles of Collinsville, Amanda Bailey of Broken Arrow, and Katie Secrist of Yukon, grandson, JP Bailey of Decatur, Texas, 7 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He is preceded in death by his wife Elva, his parents, 4 brothers and 2 sisters.