Omer A. Brown

Born to Homer and Grace (Beck) Brown on January 5, 1924 the tale of Omer Brown began. Growing up in Tulsa during the Great Depression developed Omer into an entrepreneur of sorts. It started with selling vegetables on the street corner that he stole out of a neighboring garden. He then began selling papers for the local newspaper, but it didn’t stop there. When he had leftover newspapers he would sell them the next day for a higher price by yelling “extra, extra read all about it” and pocket the money. Later he discovered that along with his friends he could ‘earn’ money for movie tickets when they were not able to sneak in. Omer and his friends would stand in front of the theater with hat in hand and downcast eyes and say “money for the poor.” Once they had enough money they would pay their way into the movies. Omer began having adventures at a young age from walking down the side walk hand in hand with Max Baer, (former world heavy weight champion) to being a competitive fast pitch softball catcher. After his last game Omer walked to the outfield and tossed his cleats over the fence and said he couldn’t stop playing if he still had his cleats. Omer and his 3 brothers Luther, Harold and Glenn had a fight club of sorts down on Sand Springs line. Boys would gather, fight and go home with friends. When he was old enough to drive he went together with his best friend to buy a $15 model T with holes in the floorboard. When Omer was 17 years old he gave his life to Christ and began living a life devoted to the Lord. Omer served in the United State Army during WWII as a C47 pilot flying missions in the pacific including the famous drop of paratroopers on “the rock” AKA Corregidor. He said they began to fly with only a few weeks training. Omer was also stationed in the Philippine’s and despite the danger took a local man’s offer to eat dinner at his tree house deep in the woods. He said he was concerned there would be poison in the food or an ambush but Omer never turned down an adventure. Marrying June Simmons in Tulsa, on November 25, 1948 is what Omer would consider his greatest accomplishment. Being the romantic that he was he proposed at a ballgame while never taking his eye off the game. They had many adventures together from traveling all over the US to spending weeks at a time at the Illinois River where they once owned a cabin. Since Omer was an avid fisherman he never turned down an opportunity to head down to Texhoma or to the river. Living in Healdton and then in Stroud Omer and June had 3 children: Glenn, Terry, and Penny. Omer worked for many years for Sunoco Oil Company and eventually retired with them. At one point they even owned an oil well in Stroud. Both Omer and June were active members of Stroud First Baptist and on early mornings any day of the week you would see them both drinking coffee and sitting out on the porch at their big blue house reading their Bibles. At age 89 Omer was honored to be taken back up into a C47 once again but this time sitting in the back and watching the paratroops jump out. Omer went to join June in heaven on January 21, 2014 at the age of 90. To say he lived a full life is an understatement. Omer provided his family with endless support both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The man with the strongest grip in the world also taught many life lessons, one of which was to not get your toes too close or you may never get free. His oldest, Glenn married Donna Wilkerson and they had 4 children: Fanya, Ryan, Ginger, and Crystal. Omer’s second, Terry married Rheta Sabatucci. Their children include: Brad, Chad, Zachary, Zane, and Shelby. His youngest, Penny married Paul Nicolet whose children include: Brittany, Breah, and Browning. There will never be another Omer Brown but one of the great grandchildren may someday come close. They include: Maisie, Kennedi, Tristan, Lucas, Landon, Brigham, Matti, Alex, Emeri, Casey, Emma, Kaid, and Mason. As the patriarch of this ever growing family Omer Brown has left a legacy of a love for Jesus Christ and living that love out through actions affecting countless people. Niece, Carrollyne Brown, Nephew, Joe Harold Brown and Sally Smith. Omer is survived by Jack Simmons and sister in law, Judy Raesener . Funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the First Baptist Church in Stroud with Rev. Bob Copeland officiating. Burial will be in the Stroud Cemetery under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Stroud.