Thelma Idabel Oliver, daughter of Lester Medlin and Gracie Allen Medlin, was born on August 27, 1924 in Bernie, Missouri and died October 6, 2015 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri at the age of 91.
During the depression years, Thelma helped her family sharecrop by picking cotton, chopping cotton and pitching hay. She was employed at Campbell Filter for many years. She loved to make people laugh and in spite of her declining health, she never lost her sense of humor.
She was a member of the Dexter Church of Christ for nearly seventy years. She loved the Lord and during her long life, she taught many people about the gospel message.
On September 15, 1950, she was united in marriage to Billy Lee Oliver in Piggott, Arkansas. He continues to reside in Dexter, Missouri.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by their only child, Vicki Hopgood and her husband Terry of Rolla, Missouri; by two grandchildren, Aaron Hopgood of Rolla, Missouri and Allison Rogerson and her husband Christian of Balikpapen , Indonesia; by six great-grandchildren, Grace Rogerson, Noah Rogerson, Jackson Rogerson, Cooper Rogerson, William Rogerson and Samuel Rogerson; by four sisters, Mildred Carlton of Dexter, Missouri, Melba Ward-Walker of Bernie, Missouri, Louise Dye of Kennett, Missouri and Bonnie Brigman of Aurora, Colorado.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Clifford Medlin, Clecy Medlin, Welton Medlin and Donny Ray Medlin; and by two sisters, Eva Embrey and Wilma Walker.
Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, October 10, 2015 from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. with Clyde Jacques officiating.
Interment will follow in the Essex Cemetery in Essex, Missouri.The family requests that donations be made to Crowley’s Ridge Youth Camp, c/o Children’s Homes, Inc., 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, Arkansas 72450.
