Olen Sammie Purget

Olen Sammie Purget began his journey in life on March 16, 1941, the son of Frank Rick and Iris Kathern (Lawson) Purget. He was born and raised in the Hulbert community and graduated from Hulbert High School in 1959. He became a plumber/pipefitter and worked in various locations and eventually went to work in Prudhoe Bay on the Alaskan Pipeline for over 12 years. It was there that he met Pamela Dixson. They were married December 30, 1986, in Fort Smith, AR. Together they spent 37 wonderful years of fun times and enough memories to fill a story book. Olen was the owner and operator of Clear Creek Trading Post and Purget Ranch, alongside his wife Pamela. Music was one of Olen’s greatest passions and brought endless joy to him and his family throughout the years. Some of his favorite artists were George Jones, Connie Smith and Rhonda Vincent, just to name a few. He often said, “There are only two types of music, country and western.” There was hardly a time there wasn’t a guitar in his hands and he was quite the fiddle and mandolin player. Olen was part of the band, The Rusty Ramblers, performing at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa almost every weekend during the early ‘60s. Some of their songs were even played on the local radio station, KTLQ in Tahlequah. In 2004, he promoted many artists such as Connie Smith, Doug Stone, Marty Stuart, Ray Price, as well as others. One thing for sure, he had a way of bringing a smile to those around him and had the best sense of humor that could make anyone laugh. He was a bit on the ornery side, one of the many qualities that people loved so dearly. He could spark up conversation with absolutely anyone and enjoyed visiting with the customers that would come by CCTP most every day. His health began to fail and on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, he passed from this life at his home in Hulbert with family by his side. He is now strumming his guitar in the heavens. He will be greatly missed by the many that knew and loved him.

Those that have gone on before him include his parents, one son, Faron Purget and two brothers, Ira and Bill Purget.

His memory lives on through his wife, Pamela Purget of the home, four daughters, Christa Newburn and husband Clay of San Antonio, TX, Angy Purget of Hulbert, OK, Renée Petty and husband Anthony of Hulbert, OK and Lisa Aloisio of Tulsa, OK. He will also be remembered by his two brothers Ralph Purget and wife Winifreda (Wennie) of Edmond, OK and John Purget and partner Thelma of Chelsea, OK and two sisters, Kathern Thompson and husband James of Bixby, OK and Barbara McMurtrey and husband LJ of Fort Gibson, OK along with 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren and many other friends and loved ones too numerous to mention.

A time of visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday, April 15, 2024, from 2:00pm until 6:00pm at Reed-Culver Funeral Home in Tahlequah. Funeral service will be held Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 10:00am at First Baptist Church Hulbert with Cole Purget officiating. He will be laid to rest in I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Hulbert.

Serving as pallbearers are Anthony Petty, Clay Newburn, Travis Rhodes, Jerry Craig, Bill Jackson, Lamont (Chris) Brown. Honorary pallbearers include Travis Lett, Andy Dixson, Kodi Dixon, Bobby Lawson, Sonny Lawson, Ronnie Smith, Devon Newburn, Spencer Newburn, and Chase Newburn.