LORENE OLIVER

Lorene Harrell Oliver
Ranger

Lorene H. Oliver, 94, of Ranger, passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 in her home in Ranger. Mrs. Oliver was born on June 23, 1917 to Robert Emil and Ida Frances Vaughn Harrell in Grand Saline, Texas. Her family moved to Ranger in 1920. She attended Cooper Elementary School, and graduated from Ranger High School and Ranger Junior College. Lorene graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Education and Masters of Education from Abilene Christian University in Abilene. She married Howard H. Oliver on July 24, 1947 in Fort Worth.
Lorene worked for the Ranger Independent School District as a teacher from 1937 to 1942 and then for the Southwestern Peanut Growers Association in Gorman as Secretary of Farm Machinery Department from June 1942 through August 1945. She then returned to Ranger Independent School District as an Elementary Teacher at Young Elementary School for 33 years, and as an Elementary Principal at Young Elementary and Ranger Elementary School for 10 years. She taught Adult Education Classes form 1972 through 1976 and served as a member of the RISD Board of Trustees from 1984 through 1992. She served one year as Board Secretary and four years as Board President. She had a total of 51 years service with the RISD and was presented a 50 Year Service Pin from RISD in 1991 by Jerry Jackson, Superintendent. Lorene also served as Secretary of the Board of Regents at Ranger College form 1994 through 2005.
Lorene was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ranger, was a past Matron and a fifty plus year member of the Ranger Chapter #275 Order of the Eastern Star, and a past president of the new Era Club. She was a charter member and past president of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Texas Beta Upsilon. She was also a member of the Texas Elementary Principal and Supervision Association, Texas State Teachers Association, University Texas Ex-Students Association and the Ranger Exes Association. Lorene was a charter member and director of the Ranger Historical Preservation Society and also a member of the Lions Club. She was recognized as Outstanding Alumnus, Ranger Jr. College in 1993 and she receive Alumnus of the Year in 1994 in recognition for the work done for the Ranger High School Ex-Students Association. She was selected for inclusion in the Directory of Distinguished Americans, Third Edition for the Service to the Community by the American Biographical Institute.
Lorene is preceded in death by her husband, Howard H. Oliver; her parents, Robert Emil Harrell and Ida Frances Vaughn Harrell; her sister, Inez Harrell Bourdeau; her brother-in-law, Bill Bourdeau; and a step-son, Howard H. Oliver, Jr.
She is survived by a daughter, Dorothy Ann and husband Mike Fisher of Eastland; a grandson, Rodney Howard Fisher of Eastland; and a great-grandson, Jerrod Howard Fisher of Cisco.
Services will be 2:00 PM, Monday, January 30, 2012, at the First Baptist Church of Ranger with Ronny Guess, officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Viewing will be from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, on Sunday, January 29, 2012, at Edwards Funeral Home in Ranger.
Family requests memorials be directed to the Ranger Volunteer Fire Department, 500 East Loop 254, Ranger TX. 76470 and Lighthouse Hospice of Eastland, 957 E. Main St., Eastland, TX. 76448.
Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Ranger.