Oleta Maud Beam Celin, 74 year old resident of Arnett, Oklahoma died May 10, 2013 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Oleta was born June 25, 1938 in Arnett to Charlie Rufus and Fern Oleta Brant Beam. The family lived in Arnett, Oklahoma. Oleta attended Arnett Public Schools where she was the Valedictorian of the senior class, graduating in 1956. After high school Oleta attended the University Of Oklahoma School Of Nursing receiving her Diploma in Nursing. While in nursing school, Oleta met and married John Skuja from Australia. They moved to Australia in 1961 where they traveled with his job as a civil engineer and her as a registered nurse, which Australians referred to as a "sister". In 1963 she returned to the United States where she continued her education at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky. Oleta was accepted into the University Of Tennessee Memorial Hospital School Of Anesthesia. She was there until 1975. Undergraduate work then led her to The College of St. Francis in Peoria, Illinois where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Health Arts in 1980. Oleta also attended the Valencia Community College in Sanford, Florida. Oleta then started her graduate work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee and finished in Nova University Orlando, Florida, receiving her Masters in Business Degree in 1984. Throughout her life, Oleta worked in the profession that allowed her to help others. She began as a Division Charge Nurse and later as Director of Operating Room Services in Lexington, Kentucky. She worked as an Anesthetist at the University of Tennessee Memorial Hospital. She moved to Florida in 1983 and worked as an Anesthetist at the Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando, Florida. After her retirement, she moved back to Arnett. Oleta was a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists and the Association of Operating Room Nurses where she served on the Board of Directors for four years. After returning to Arnett, Oleta stayed active in the community. Often times she was called upon by folks to get her opinion of why they were feeling the way they were. She would check blood pressures and blood sugars for many in the community. She started an exercise class at the Senior Citizens Center, which is ongoing. Oleta spent a great deal of time writing letters and having meetings to improve the care of our patients in Oklahoma nursing homes. Oleta has always been a person who stood firm in what she believed. She was always there to defend her family and friends, and became the matriarch for the whole family. Oleta's home was our home away from home. Oleta loved her dogs Heidi and Brady. Lately she could be seen walking Brady along side the golf cart with some of her favorite neighbors. Animals became an important part of her life when she moved back to Arnett. Oleta always loved flower gardens. She had taken photography classes to enhance her abilities to take close ups of beautiful flowers. Throughout her life Oleta loved to travel, with her first trip alone being to California at the age of 15. She loved to see what the world had to offer, and had travel plans for the future. Oleta was a member of the Arnett United Methodist Church. She was baptized early in life. Oleta is preceded in death by her parents Charlie and Fern Beam, brother Jim Beam, half brothers LeRoy Anding and Tillman Beam and half sister Theola Beam Rush. She is survived by brothers Bob Beam and wife Vivian of Edmond, Oklahoma, Ed Beam of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Larry Beam and wife Beth of Bogue, Kansas, and sister Linda Beam Parker of Lake Mary, Florida, sister-in-law Ruth Ann Anding of Arnett; nieces Cyndi Wolfe, Jana Beam, Jayci Simon, Charli Beam, Treva Beam, and Thelma Beam; nephews Roy Lee Anding, Jack Anding, Steve Beam, Craig Beam, Trey Stouffer, Grant Anding, Travis Beam, Dustin Beam, Danny Shaffer; several great nieces and nephews and many friends.
Memorials can be made to the United Methodist Church of Arnett building fund.