Oleta Fenier

Fenier, Oleta, of Ballwin, MO, died on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at the age of 86. Loving wife of Joseph Fenier; beloved daughter of the late E.T. and Clara Mitchell; devoted mother of Karen (Alan) Clark and Frederic (Bev) Fenier; cherished grandmother of Julia Clark, Andrew (Lauren) Fenier, and Jeremy (Tanya) Fenier; treasured great-grandmother of Tyson, Cailey, Brynlee, Kaitlyn, and Jillian. She is preceded in death by her siblings Idell (Melvin) Thompson, Evelene (RM) Thompson, Sherrill (Glenda Crandall) Mitchell, Randall (Margaret) Mitchell, and infant sister Vona Mitchell.My mother, Oleta Fenier. She gave her whole self to her family.  She was a homemaker after her marriage to dad, initially as a single mom and navy wife.  She raised me to toe the mark and always try to give a little more effort.  'You made a B?  Why last semester you made an A!'  Ugh!!  When I brought my troubles to her '“ if she could not solve them for me there was always food, lots of it.  The kitchen was her kingdom and she was master of her kingdom.  I guess that's why I wore 'chubby' sizes.  We never missed a meal.  Nothing said love like a brownie.  Dinner was at 5 PM sharp and be there or else!  Even on the many road trips which we took.
She always had time and lots of it for my children and her grandchildren.  She once painted the outline of a soccer goal on her basement wall and played soccer goalie with grandson Jeremy taking shots at her in goal.  She also adored Andrew and Julia and would light up whenever she saw them.
But most of all I have to thank her for telling me about our Lord Jesus.  She took me to church at an early age and taught me that the King who came to earth to save His people, and was rejected by everyone, died for our sins and would save me if only I would ask Him which I did at an early age.  I reminisced last week about the time mom was baptized as a child in Melber, Kentucky Creek.  Many times she swam there and she said they laughed when snakes slithered into the water off of the bank.
We will all miss her and try to remember her as she was when her mind was better. Loving, caring mother -   we will be united once again someday in the Lord!
From Karen:
Born and raised in Melber, Kentucky, Mom grew up strong and resilient. She left home after graduating from high school to move to Washington, D.C., where she became a PBX operator. That's when she met Dad on a blind date. He graduated from the Naval Academy on June 2, 1950 at 11 a.m. They got married two hours later. They took off on their honeymoon, which was a trip across the country to Dad's post in San Diego. They had no means of communication during their travels and had no idea that Joe was going to have to ship out to Korea upon arrival, as war had broken out. When they arrived in San Diego, Mom stayed with Dad's relatives and then moved to Chicago to live with his father, where she delivered their son.Her mother passed in 1953 while she was pregnant with me. Mom was so upset she almost miscarried. Mama Clare had been living with them at the time. I never had a chance to meet her, but I know in my heart what a wonderful person she was.Dad eventually left the Navy and we moved to Springfield, Virginia in 1951 and to San Diego,, California in 1955. We moved to Florissant, Missouri in the summer of my ninth birthday. My parents remained there until their last move to Chesterfield, Missouri.Mom was a wonderful stay-at-home mom and a devoted and hard-working wife. I enjoyed coming home from school and just being with her to share the events of the day.She loved to cook for her family. She was known for her extra special cherry pie with a flaky crust that no one could ever match.Although she was shy and private, she always had a smile and hello for everyone. I would walk with her through Park Place or Bethesda Meadow and she would say hi to everyone -- including those in wheelchairs. She was a true and loyal friend. She used to drive a friend to work every single day . . . just because that's how she was. She would never ask for anything in return -- always the epitome of generosity with time and money.She had doted for years on her grandsons, who she adored, but she was so excited when, after years of my infertility issues and failed attempts to adopt, my husband and I called to tell her that we had met a beautiful little girl that we wanted to adopt. She and Dad met us at the airport when we returned from Russia with our little Russian Jewel. They brought her a little stuffed bear and she sat between them in the back seat on the ride back to their house from the airport. She still adores that bear.Mom had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh. I will always remember her laughter. My husband always made her laugh. He took such good care of her, taking her to lunch and to see Dad on a regular basis.She was my best friend. I talked to her almost every day of my life. I can't believe she's gone, but I'm glad she's not suffering and is free from the fog of Alzheimer's now. I cherished my time with her and she will live on in my heart, for she was a precious treasure in our lives.