Clydene Oliver’s life began May 7, 1938. She was the second child of Woodson and Willora Young Terrell. She grew up with her two brothers, Billy Earl and Jerry, and her sister, Judy, on a farm in Lockney, Texas.
Clydene loved sports and made the varsity basketball team her freshman year in Lockney. Her family moved to Plainview after Billy Earl’s tragic death.
She graduated from Plainview High School with academic honors and went to West Texas State University, where she completed her business and education degrees.
After graduating from college, Clydene moved to Dallas where her shorthand skills won her a position at Sun Oil. She commented that her teacher friends got to travel and have fun during their summers off, so she began her teaching career in Irving. It was during one of these summer breaks that Clydene was visiting her parents who had moved to Lampasas, when she met Gordon Lee Oliver.
After a short courtship, she and Gordon Lee married on Feb. 16, 1963. They lived in Lampasas after the wedding, and Clydene drove to Evant to teach school until they became parents.
In 1970, Clydene and Gordon Lee purchased Star Camp in Bend. Clydene raised her children and helped run the fishing camp. It was during this time in Bend that Clydene and Gordon Lee started harvesting pecans with two cane poles and a bucket.
In the late 1970s, they acquired property on the San Saba River near Gordon Lee’s childhood home.
Clydene loved sports, and she got to watch a lot of games. Always supportive of her children and grandchildren, she rarely missed a game or event in which they were involved.
Clydene started working in the superintendent’s office in San Saba, until the high school business teacher position became available. She motivated her students to excel. Many former students said Mrs. Oliver was their favorite teacher.
In 1984, Clydene and Gordon Lee opened Oliver Pecan Company. They built a successful company and gained respect in the pecan industry. All three of their children and a grandson continue to operate the company that they started.
Clydene retired from teaching and did the accounting (and whatever else needed to be done) at Oliver Pecan Company. She remained at the helm until she became ill with Alzheimer’s disease.
She loved Jesus and fleshed Him out to all who met her.
Clydene was preceded in death by brothers Billy Earl and Jerry Terrell, and her husband, Gordon Lee Oliver.
She is survived by her son and his wife, Shawn and Nancy Oliver; daughter and her husband, Marcie and Reagan Maxcey; son and his wife, Mark and Kristen Oliver; grandchildren Hayden and wife Brittany Oliver, Haylee Oliver, Holt Oliver, Alexa and husband Stephen Austermann, Mckenna Maxcey, Linzey Maxcey, Lane and wife Kriss Oliver, Landry Oliver, and Kellan Oliver; great-granddaughter Steeley Austermann and three more great-grandchildren on the way. She also is survived by her sister, Judy and husband Robert Lee Daniel.
Funeral service will be held Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in San Saba. Heritage Funeral Home of San Saba has charge of arrangements.
