Dr. Edward J. Minars

Dr. Edward J. Minars (Ed), 93, husband of the late Beverly Marie Barby Minars and the late Eileen Wakefield Minars passed away Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital ICU in Arlington, TX from Congestive Heart Failure and Kidney Failure. Born June 9, 1926 in Anderson, MO, he was the first born of six children to the late Milburn E. and Nancy Katherine Cheatham Minars.

Ed attended public school in Anderson, MO graduating at the age of 17. The day after he graduated he enlisted in the Medical Corp of the Navy. He served his country 2 years, 2 months, 18 days as a Pharmacist Mate Third Class V6. He was stationed at Kansas City, MO, Great Lakes, IL, San Diego, CA, Norman, OK, and Bainbridge, MD. He was awarded the American Area Victory Medal. Ed worked from age 7 in 1933 with his father as the school janitor until he graduated. He also worked in the local movie theater, grocery store, picked strawberries, and was a handyman for his neighbors. After his military service he attended the University of Missouri, Oklahoma Baptist University, and Oklahoma State University as a pre-med student. While at the University of Missouri, he met his future wife, Beverly Marie Barby, a student at Stephen’s College in Columbia, MO. While in college he was pastor at the Morrison Baptist Church, and Prairie Grove Baptist Church as well as he worked at Woolworths. He received a BA in Psychology/Philosophy from Oklahoma State University. He married Beverly Barby July, 21, 1949 at Beverly’s parent’s home on the Ralph E. and Marie Barby ranch near Knowles, OK.

Ed then attended and graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky with a MA of Divinity with emphasis in Pastoral Ministry and Counseling in 1953. While in seminary he did a 2 year fellowship at a psychiatric hospital, worked as a high school basketball coach, delivered block ice to homes and businesses, served 1 year as house parents along with Beverly at Kentucky State Children’s Home and also preached on Sundays. After graduating from seminary he served 7 years as Associate Director of Missions for Franklin, Anderson, and Lincoln Counties Baptist Associations in the area of Frankfort, Kentucky.

During his time in Kentucky, he and Beverly were blessed with their daughters, Chelan Marie Minars Dras, 1955 and Dena Kathryn Minars Studstill, 1959.

In the 1960’s, Ed accepted a call to become pastor at Concord Baptist Church in St. Louis, MO, followed by pastorates at Parkview Baptist Church in Duncan, OK, and First Baptist Church in Beaver, OK. He then went to Fort Hays State University in Fort Hays, KS where he received a MS in Counseling and Guidance followed by a Doctorate EdD in Student Personnel and Guidance with emphasis in Clinical and Counseling Psychology in 1972 from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. After completing his Doctorate, he took a position as School Psychologist/Program Director for a five county area in Northwest OK based out of Woodward, OK. He was then offered a position as Psychologist/Supervisor with the Oklahoma State Department of Health in Guymon, OK. While working in Guymon as a Psychologist, Edward was also a professor at Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, OK and taught extension Psychology classes for Oklahoma State University. Ed also wrote two books for teachers to use in remediating learning differences in the classroom.

Over the years of graduate school and after, he served in many churches as Interim Pastor in the OK/KS/TX area. On weekends he also spent time working on Beverly’s parent’s ranch doing ranch work that was needed from farming, feeding cattle, cattle roundups, and working in their huge garden. Ed retired in 1988 from the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

After retiring from the Oklahoma Department of Health, Edward began a private practice, Northwest Oklahoma Counseling Services from 1988-1991 in Beaver, OK.

After the death of his wife, Beverly, September 11, 1990, he was invited to join the faculty and staff as University Counselor and Lecturer in Psychology at Oklahoma Baptist University for 10 years. During that time he was also chairman of Academic Affairs, and served on the Executive Committee of OBU Board of Trustees. Ed was a charter member of the National Board of Development, co-chairman of two capital fund campaigns and financial supporter on the Presidents Council at OBU. He retired a second time in 2001. In 2011 Ed was the recipient of the Oklahoma Baptist University Alumni Association’s Profile in Excellence Award.

Ed was a Court Mediator for Northwest Oklahoma District Courts as well as chairman of the Northwest OK area of the OK Child Abuse Prevention Task Force. He was a volunteer for the American Red Cross Mental Health section and helped after the Oklahoma City bombing and tornadoes, volunteered with Wycliff Bible Translators to build homes in Guatemala, was a team leader on an Oklahoma Baptist University project to teach English in China, and Chaplain for the Baptist General Convention of OK. He also served on the Campaign Committee for Falls Creek Baptist Camp and Conference Center and was on the Advisory Committee for Tulsa Royalties.

In 2000 Ed married the late Eileen Parrott Wakefield Minars and was married until her death April 30, 2007. He joined Eileen helping her with her travel agency, Thomas Allen Cruises and Tours, and helped with maintenance of about 30 rental properties she owned. Ed loved traveling with Eileen and taking groups to many places, bus trips, train excursions, and cruises with her clients. He retired a third time at her death.

After a car accident in 2009 he moved to Arlington, TX near his younger daughter, Dena. He lived in an independent community where he served as Secretary, Vice President, and President of the Resident Counsel, and a member of Welcome Ambassadors. He also led a Bible Study/Service during his 9 years there on Sundays. After several illnesses beginning in late 2017 he moved to an Assisted Living Community in Arlington, TX.

Ed is survived by his 2 daughters; Chelan Marie Minars Dras (Stephen) Buena Vista, CO, Dena Kathryn Minars Studstill, Arlington, TX, Stepsons; Clifford Elliott, Enid, OK, Bill Elliott, Oklahoma City, OK, Grandchildren; Nicholaus Joel Dras, Colorado Springs, CO, Major Luke Cameron Dras (Jackie), Lyndsey Chelan Dras Lack, Colorado Springs, CO, Jonathan Edward Studstill, Arlington, TX, Julie Marie Studstill, Bedford, TX, Great Grandchildren; Benjamin Dras, Leia Dras, Kalani Lack, and Malachi Lack, Sister; Irene Minars Vanwinkle (Richard), Neosho, MO, and many special and loved nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

He was proceeded in death by wife, Beverly Barby Minars, wife, Eileen Wakefield Minars, parents Milburn E. Minars and Nancy Katherine Cheatham Minars, Brothers; Clyde Minars (Ann), Charles Minars (Jane), Sisters; Virginia Minars Straw, and Helen Minars Woodall (Pud).

Memorial contributions may be made to the Beaver County Historical Society, Beaver, OK P.O. Box 457, Beaver, OK 73932; Ralph and Marie Barby Scholarship fund or Edward and Beverly Minars Scholarship fund at Oklahoma Baptist University, Executive Offices Box 61241 500 West University Shawnee, OK 74804.

Visitation will be 8am-8pm, with family receiving guests from 4pm-8pm, Saturday, February 22, 2020 at Bill Merritt Funeral Service, 6201 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany. Services will be 2pm Sunday, February 23 at Bill Merritt. Interment will be 2pm Monday, February 24 in Knowles, Oklahoma. (Meet at Knowles Community Center around 1:30pm.)