Clarance Hladik

Clarance Mark Hladik was born at home on April 5, 1947, to Joseph Cyril and Clara Emma Houska Hladik. He was the fifth of eight children. Clarance attended Lacy Public School for all 12 years, graduating in May 1965. He went to Central State College (now UCO) for his freshman year.

Clarance joined the United States Marine Corps in August 1966.

He returned to school in 1969 to earn a bachelor’s degree in education in December 1972 and then a master’s in secondary administration and counseling in May 1976.

Clarance taught woodworking and mechanical drawing at Bethany Public Schools from 1973 to 1976.

Clarance then worked at Grissom Manufacturing until 1979. Then he went to work at Phillips Petroleum Company and he retired from Duke Conoco Phillips in 2014 as a senior construction specialist.

Clarance was exposed to Agent Orange while serving at DaNang Air Force Base, Vietnam, from October 1968 until August 1969. He was awarded a Purple Heart for injury in combat.

Clarance married Catherine Dean McClennen on September 2, 1967, in Duncan. They were married 56 years and 28 days.

Clarance was preceded death by his parents, sisters Martha Yeatman and Marcella Opfer, brother Bill Hladik and nephew Joseph Reeves.

Clarance is survived by his wife Cathie of the home; daughter Mary Tease (Larry) of Oklahoma City; daughter Holly Ollison (Mike), grandson Wyatt and granddaughter Clara, all of Tuttle; sisters, Margaret Reeves of Carlinville, Ill. and Marie White of Ft. Smith, Ark.; brothers, Butch Hladik of Hennessey and Joe Hladik of Ames; friend/ neighbor, Richard Rainey; and many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at the Piedmont Area Veterans Event Center, 170 Edmond Road NW, with the lunch to follow.

Clarance will be interred at Fort Sill National Cemetery at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17. The cemetery is located at 2648 NE Jake Dunn Road, Elgin.