Oka Ola Hare Clinesmith
Oka Ola Hare Clinesmith, age 98, of Fort Scott, passed away on Jan. 13, 2018, in Columbia, Mo. Oka was born to Andrew Jackson Hare and Mae Johnston Hare in 1919 on a Bourbon County farm south of Fort Scott. She attended Katt School and Fort Scott Junior High before moving with her family to Tribune, Kan. She graduated from Tribune Senior High School and married Carl Benjamin Clinesmith. They moved to Emporia, Kan., where she attended Emporia State for one year while Carl taught music in Pretty Prairie. When Carl was called to duty in the Army Air Force, Oka moved to Wichita and worked for Boeing. After the war, they returned to Fort Scott where she lived for over 70 years. Here they raised two children, Carl Benjamin Clinesmith, Jr. and Kaye Adele Clinesmith Miller.