CARIBOU – Olive Choate, 87, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Aug. 9, 2008, at a Caribou hospital. She was born June 17, 1921, the daughter of Arthur and Hazel (Randall) Buzzell. Olive graduated from Caribou High School in 1939 and from Aroostook State Normal School in 1942. In 1943 she married Joseph Frederick Choate. Olive had a varied teaching career; teaching school one year in Limestone and working in the office of a war plant named American Bosch Corp., Springfield, Mass. She also worked for Sears & Roebuck, Caribou, Boston and Fort Fairfield, and also as a social worker for the state of Maine for four years. In 1955 she became the first woman claims representative in the Presque Isle Social Security Office. Later she became field representative there, the first woman in the state of Maine to be appointed to that position. In 1968 she received the Social Security Commissioner’s Citation for her work and training new employees. When she retired in 1986, she was assistant manager of the office. Olive had been a member of Caribou United Baptist Church since age 11. She has served as a Sunday school teacher to both children and adults, and worked at Daily Vacation Bible School. She was elected as deacon for several terms and while in that position served as chair of Christian Education Committee, Worship Committee, Mission Committee at various times and was appointed honorary deacon for life. She was also chair of Church Publicity Committee for several years. She had been president of Mission Society and belonged to Beulah Burgess Mission Circle. Olive held various positions at the county and state level of the American Baptist Churches of Maine. She also enjoyed her times working at Baptist Park, Mapleton. Olive had been an active member of the Retired Senior Volunteer program, a member of the Aroostook Area on Aging and legislative officer for the local chapter of National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees. In addition to her parents, Olive was predeceased by her husband, Joseph; her son, Jonathan and his wife, Chun Hwa (Jung) Choate. She is survived by her sister, Arthalene Gordey and her husband, Daniel, and their son, John-Yong, of San Antonio; a double cousin, the Rev. Harry Randall and his wife, Glenna, and their family of York; a cousin, Ronald Buzzell and his wife, Dorothy, and their family of Caribou; many other special cousins, nieces and nephews and her church family at Caribou United Baptist Church. Friends may call 3-5 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home, 11 Clover St., Caribou. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Thursday at Caribou United Baptist Church with the Revs. John Kiehn and Joshua Burden officiating. Interment will take place after the service at Evergreen Cemetery, Caribou. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations in Olive’s memory to the Buzzell/Choate scholarship fund, in care of Caribou United Baptist Church, 74 High St., Caribou, ME 04736. Friends may express their condolences to the family at www.lancastermorgan.com.
OLIVE CHOATE
