Anna Marie Clark Olive

is honored with a Brick from Ruth Anne Ellis, Nancy Welshimer, John Olive

Anna Marie (Clark) Olive was born January 22, 1919 in Kansas City, Kansas, the daughter of Archibald David and Lena Belle (Foster) Clark. Nicknamed Betty by her family, she spent the first 19 years of her life in Kansas City. She has fond memories of listening to her mother tell stories on their front porch, roller skating, going to the movies, checking out books at the library, and annual family vacations. Our mother was orphaned at age twelve when her mother, a former teacher, was killed in a car wreck and her father, a K.C. fireman, died six months later from injuries sustained on the job.

Betty, her sixteen year old sister, Frances, and ten year old sister, Dorothy moved a few blocks away to live with their 67 year old widowed aunt. Their three year old brother Charles Vernon went to live with another aunt in St. Louis. Mom's Aunt Annie worked full time as a police matron at City Hall and her son was a police officer so there were many lively dinner table conversations involving happenings in the city government. Aunt Annie continued to plan annual vacation trips for the family.

Mom was active in Campfire Girls, Rambo Club, and involved in her church youth group. As a sophomore, she recalls standing across the street from Wyandotte High School one evening and watching it burn. She and her friends sang the school song as the flames destroyed their school. Her class attended half day classes at two different schools in order to graduate.

After high school, Mom worked at Hallmark Cards, Ed's Florist, and a dry cleaners. She was planning to attend college and become a teacher. She was quite shocked when her Aunt Annie announced one day that she had enrolled Mom in nurses' training at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. Mom took the train to Wichita and spent the next three years taking classes to become a registered nurse. Mom made lifelong friends during her nurses' training years. Even though she didn't choose to become a nurse, she told us later that she enjoyed her years of caring for many patients.

After graduation, Mom returned to Kansas City and worked at St. Luke's Hospital. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, she enlisted the next day as an Army nurse. She received a commission as a second lieutenant and was sent to Fort Warren in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was at the base hospital that she met our father, John Paul Olive. A native Oklahoman and graduate of Oklahoma A&M, he was sent to Wyoming after completing Officer Candidate School. When Mom received orders to transfer to Oklahoma City Air Depot, they decided to marry on August 5, 1942. Marriage put an end to Mom's career as an Army nurse, but not as an Army wife. She traveled with Dad to bases in Virginia and California. Our family was begun when Ruth Anne was born in Hopewell, VA. on December 6, 1943. Dad was transferred to CA six weeks before she was born. Mom notified him by telegram that he had a baby daughter. Before Dad was sent to New Guinea and the Philippines, he took Mom and Ruth Anne to Kansas City to be near Mom's sister, Frances.

After WWII ended, our parents settled in Wichita. The family grew to include Nancy Jane, born March 11, 1947, John Paul, Jr., born May 21, 1950, and Ronald James, born December 20, 1959. Mom had lunch ready for us every day when we ran home from school, eager to tell her all about our morning. She was active in Carter P.T.A. and study groups, E.H.U., Grace Presbyterian Church, and East Lionesses. She returned to nursing and worked part time at St. Francis, Wesley, and Head Start. She made many of our clothes, crocheted, knitted, canned various foods, took ceramics, water aerobics, and classes at W.U. Each summer she kept the home fires burning while Dad went to Army Reserve summer camp for two weeks. Summertime usually included at least one family camping trip. Later, she and Dad joined Eastminister Presbyterian Church. She is involved in P.E.O., Officer's Wives' Club, and attended classes at East Heights Shepherd Center. We treasure the memoirs she has written for our family.

Space will not permit us to list the many reasons why Mom is our heroine. Here are just a few: Mom is a lifelong learner and has inspired each of us to become avid readers and learners. Mom continues to be our cheerleader: affirming our successes, believing in us and in our children and grandchildren.

Mom instilled a love of family in each of us. She cherishes the times we are able to be together.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, 2008 to you, Mom. Remember how very much we love you!