Ozoral Oliver

CARTERVILLE-Ozoral `Red` Oliver, 79, of Carterville passed away at 12:20 PM, Saturday, February 12, 2005 at Herrin Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Reverend Earl Black officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, Monday, February 14, 2005 at the funeral home. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery, Marion. Military rites will be held at the cemetery by VFW Post and American Legion Post 147. Mr. Oliver, the youngest of ten children, was born on October 27, 1925 in Princeton, Kentucky to Cullen and Dora (Kappler) Oliver. He married Virginia Morehead Sims on April 2, 1948 in Sikeston, Missouri and she survives. Other survivors include son and daughter-in-law, J. Q. `Jack` and Janet Sims of Jamestown, North Carolina; daughter and son-in-law, Dora Ann and Donald Paul Samuel of Carterville; son, Rusty Oliver and fiancée, Susan Gazdik of northwest Indiana; grandchildren, Julie and Chris Martin of High Point, North Carolina, Jason and Stephanie Sims of Kernersville, North Carolina, Libbey and Gavin Clark of Marion, Kevin Paul Samuel of Carterville, and Abbey Samuel of Murphysboro; great grandchildren, Erica and Megan Martin, Lily and Caleb Clark and Blake Sims; brothers, Eugene Oliver and Emory Oliver of Sikeston, Missouri; sister, Ida Wallace of Sikeston, Missouri; and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; son and daughter-in-law, Cullen Lee and Vicky Oliver; three brothers; and three sisters. Mr. Oliver worked as a Construction Superintendent throughout Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois before settling down in Carterville and forming O. M. Oliver and Sons Construction Company. He retired in 1990 and spent time traveling with his wife. He served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1945 on the USS California in the Pacific Theatre. He was of Methodist faith.