Olive Church

Olive Dorothy (Vincent) Church was born on January 19, 1932, in Ft. Morgan, Colorado, to Roe and Violet Vincent. She passed away on Monday, March 7, 2016, in Independence, Missouri, at the age of 84.
The family moved all over the country during Olive’s childhood, instilling a love of travel. Olive has seen 49 states, as well as 19 countries. The family eventually settled in Sedalia, Missouri, where Olive graduated from high school in 1950. She received her Associate Degree from Graceland College, her Bachelor’s Degree from Central Missouri State College, her Master’s Degree from Eastern New Mexico University, and her Doctorate from the University of North Dakota. In her early years, Olive served as the secretary to the President Edmund J Gleazer, Jr, of Graceland College. She also taught business and economics education on the high school and college level. She has written 25 textbooks, 28 novels, and numerous other publications. Olive studied and developed efficiency systems for the private and commercial sectors. She was a guest lecturer, consultant, and keynote speaker for companies and national seminars throughout her career. As Chairperson of the Department of Business Education at the University of Wyoming, she developed curriculum to establish a bachelor’s program for organizational management and a master’s program for corporate training. She designed courses and programs in several satellite campuses for the university. She retired as a professor emeritus from the University of Wyoming in 1997. She was named Woman of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women in 2013.Olive accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was active in camps and conferences in her youth, and served as branch and district Women’s Leader in the 1960s. Her first novel, A Time of Rebellion, was published by Herald House in 1968. After her retirement, she settled on her ranch in northern Colorado and continued writing fiction. She returned to Independence in 2014 to be near her children. In her final days, she found great peace with her Heavenly Father and was in prayer and praise for the blessings of her life.
Olive was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her children: Sherri Macomber (David) of Independence, Missouri; Kimberly Church of Odessa, Missouri; Lori Perry, Russell Church and Julia Anderson (Kevin), of Independence, Missouri; her brother, Dale Vincent (Georgia) of Olympia, Washington; and her companion of 43 years, Stan Gehring; her nephew Sean Vincent (Kerri); 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great children. A private family service will be held in Independence. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel 816-373-3600)