Ouida was born on December 27, 1924 to Smiley Arthur (Pete) and Mary Elizabeth Iona Smith Hillyer in Opelika, Alabama. she passed away quietly in her sleep at her home in Odessa, Texas on the morning of September 21, 2018 at the age of 93.
She is survived by two sons, Mickey and Kenneth Branch of Odessa; one daughter, Aleta Lawyer of Horseshoe Bay, Texas; one granddaughter, Gwen Williams of Kingsland, Texas; three grandsons, Randy Branch, Corey Branch and Ken Branch of Austin; three great-granddaughters, Tori Quemada of San Antonio, Britiney Branch and Haley Branch of Ohio; sister, Macie Hillyer Gardner of Florida.
She is preceded in death by her mother and father; first husband, Cecil Branch of Odessa; second husband, George Kelton of Odessa; her son, Johnny Branch of Odessa; brothers, Peevy Hillyer, Steward Hillyer, Nelson Hillyer, Mark Hillyer, Frank Hillyer, and George Hillyer; sisters, Irma Mayberry and Colan Ennis.
Ouida was raised and went to school in Lee County, Alabama. She attended and graduated from Beaureguard which was a K-12 or 1st -12th grade school. She worked as a telephone operator until she met and fell in love with Cecil Branch, who was from Gainsville, Texas and an army soldier stationed at Ft. Benning. Members of Providence Baptist Church, which was the epicenter of the Hillyer clan's existence, had seen a write-up about a gospel quartet group of soldiers who performed around the area and had them perform at Providence. Cecil was one of the members of the group and she was drawn to him by his singing ability and appearance. When Cecil was discharged from the Army, he and Ouida and children began farming as well as taking jobs in Opelika. In 1956 they moved to Odessa to help Cecil's sister and brother-in-law. Ouida worked at several part-time jobs but mostly helped her husband with the skating rink. She and her kids followed Cecil to several cities including Crane, Monahans, Fort Stockton, Andrews and Witchita Falls, Texas. She never complained and was a terrific wife, mother and grandmother always.
After Cecil's passing, Ouida married George Kelton. Ouida and George had a wonderful life together until he passed away in Odessa, Texas in November, 2015. She continued to be the sweetest person on the face of the Earth to her very last breath. She was loved by everyone who knew her, and adored by her entire family.
Visitation for Ouida is set for Monday, September 24, 2018 from 5PM-7PM at Frank Wilson Funeral Directors in Odessa. Ouidas funeral will take place on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at Frank Wilson Funeral Directors at 11:00 AM. Burial to follow service at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
