Minerva Massad Cohlmia

Minerva Massad Cohlmia was born January 22, 1920, in Drumright, Oklahoma, to Very Reverend George and Bedyah Massad. Her parents immigrated to this country from Lebanon early in the 20th century, both arriving as teenagers and without their parents, meeting and marrying in Steele, Missouri, in 1916. Minerva was raised in Drumright until 1938, when her father was appointed the priest at St. Elijah Orthodox Christian Church in OKC and she graduated from Classen High School. Minerva was instrumental in starting Alpha Malachi Sorority, and was the editor of the News Bits, a monthly newsletter sent to Lebanese-American soldiers during World War II. After high school, she worked at Nissen's Shoes in downtown OKC until marrying Gorden Cohlmia on March 7, 1948, at which time they moved to Fairview, Oklahoma, and opened Gorden's Market. She worked in the grocery store until it was sold in 1974, and shortly thereafter started the Meals on Wheels program in Fairview. Minerva was an active member of Central Christian Church in Fairview, where she served on the Board and chaired the committee to assist grieving families. She also served on the boards of Fairview Hospital Foundation and Fairview Lakeside Country Club, in addition to volunteering at the Fairview Hospital and Nursing Home, Fly-In, Threshing Bee, and just about everything else that took place in her community. Minerva was so involved that she was named the 1988 Volunteer of the Year in Fairview for her many years of service to her community. In addition to starting her days with her daily devotional, Bible readings, and exercise routines, she always told her family that "your week won't start out right if you don't go to church" always leading by example, exhibiting the poise, grace and dignity expected of a lady. Always a willing & gracious hostess, she was an excellent mother, Sitty, relative, neighbor and friend. Minerva was predeceased by her husband, Gorden, two brothers, Alex and Omar Massad, and one sister, Esther Samara, and many in-laws on the Cohlmia side of her family. Survived by daughter Leyla Cohlmia and husband Girard Kinney of Austin, TX; daughter Mona and Mike Spivey, OKC; and son George and Karla Cohlmia, Oklahoma City; grandchildren Adam and Kasey Cohlmia, Oklahoma City; brother Mike Massad, Dallas, TX; sisters-in-law Dee Massad, Austin, TX; Jacque Massad, OKC; Elsie Simon, Clinton, OK; Phyllis Cohlmia, OKC; brother-in-law Dr. Ray & Sameera Cohlmia, OKC; plus a multitude of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. The family also thanks Mom's caregivers, Bobbie Weehunt, Jeannie Coleman and Mercy Hospice, for their kind, loving and tender care. Thanks for treating her as if she were your mother.