Oris Greever

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church with Dr. Steve Brooks officiating. Burial will follow at Elmwood Memorial Park under the direction of Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home. The family will receive friends Monday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 Highway 277 South.

Oris was born on September 21, 1928 in Penokee, Kansas. He graduated from Canon City High School in Colorado prior to joining the U. S. Marine Corp. Oris attended the University of Colorado for two years, but was activated with the 193rd Heavy Tank Battalion of the National Guard during the Korean Conflict. After graduating from Hardin-Simmons University, Oris began his career with the Internal Revenue Service where he received the Albert Gallatin Award from the U. S. Treasury Department. From 1972 to 1996 he was President and CEO of Ballinger Butane Gas Co. and Coleman Butane Gas Co. Oris received the 1986 Director of the Year award from the Texas LP Gas Association, and in 1990 he served as President. He spent 27 years officiating football and was inducted into the Texas Association of Sports Officials Hall of Honor. In 2010 Oris was inducted into the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Officiating. His extensive community involvement ranged from service as Trustee for Abilene Philharmonic, to the Military Affairs Committee of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, the Wednesday Rotary Club of Abilene, and the Commemorative Air Force, just to name a few. In 1997 Oris became the oldest student pilot to fly in and land at an air show at Abilene Regional Airport. To celebrate his 75th birthday, he went skydiving in the Colorado Rockies. Oris met his Abilene Angel, Othell Merrell, in 1950 while stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. Together they shared almost sixty years of marriage and two beautiful daughters. He loved his girls with all his heart and soul and considered his family life to be his greatest accomplishment.

Oris is preceded in death by his parents, Lottie and Marshall Greever. He is survived by his wife, Othell; daughter Gaye and son-in-law Michael McElwain of Austin; daughter Eileen Greever of Fort Worth; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Dr. Ralph Heaven and the staff of Texas Oncology. A special thanks is extended to Dr. Dawson, Tammy, Julie, Juanita, Pam, and everyone else at Hospice of the Big Country. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Big Country, 4601 Hartford, 2nd Floor, Abilene, Texas 79605.