Meet the CattleWomen

November 1999 CattleWoman
Arlene Oliver

(Arlene, left, took time out at the OCA Annual Convention to handle the antique gun she had just won in a drawing and to goof around with OCA President, John Hays and immediate Past President, Sharon Beck)

Arlene Gay Oliver was born August 29, 1923 at the Belshaw ranch home four miles west of John Day, Oregon .  Her parents were Vera Belshaw Gay and Alec R. Gay.   She attended the local Cummingsville Grade School 15 miles west of Mt. Vernon, Grant Union High School in John Day and Oregon State University in Corvallis.  She married Joseph C. Oliver on February 22, 1942.  They made their home in Bear Valley and John Day on the Oliver ranches and other business properties.  Arlene is a charter member of the Grant County Cow Belles, Oregon Cow Belles and American National Cow Belles.  She served as president of both county and state organizations and vice president of the American National Cow Belles.  These organizations have now changed their names to Oregon CattleWomen and National CattleWomen.  She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #77 in John Day, Hebron Rebekkah Lodge #6, Daughters of the Nile, John Day Elkettes and St. Thomas Episcopal Church.  She served on the Grant County Fair Board for many years.  At one time, she was both chairman and secretary-treasurer.  In later years, she has become an active member of the John Day Golf Club and spends many days chasing that little white ball now that she has semi-retired.

Arlene has three children: daughter, Gay Kuykendall and her husband Gary of Canby; daughter, Kay Oliver of Bend; son J.C. Oliver III and his wife Tinka of Bear Valley; one granddaughter, Kati Jo Oliver of Bear Valley; three grandsons, Greg Kuykendall and his wife Traci of Canby, Troy Henson of Scottsdale, Arizona and Joseph Alec Oliver of Bear Valley.