Clarice Jane Roads

Clarice Jane Roads

1923-2018

Clarice was born in Dallas, TX, and lived in Durant, OK with her parents Clarence and Lela. Her early childhood years were spent in OKC, where her mother introduced her to reading and music, and Clarice honed them into lifelong interests. She had an insatiable appetite for knowledge and was a devoted reader all her life. She read “Gone with the Wind” in one sitting, always looked up the citations in footnotes, and loved mysteries. She took piano lessons early on, and at age eleven, was an accompanist for a gospel quartet in the Ada area (which included her mother). For many years Clarice played piano at school assemblies, glee club, and later was a pianist and organist at several churches for weddings and services. She attended OKC and Ada schools and graduated from Byng High School, where she played girls basketball under legendary coach Bertha Frank Teague, and was Class Valedictorian.

Clarice began college at East Central State College (Ada), but left to work for the U.S. Corps of Engineers in Denton, TX, and later as Deputy County Treasurer in Ada. She moved to Guthrie and worked for Farm Security Administration where she met the love of her life and best friend, and married Lester Roads in Ada. They began their family in McLoud, and later moved to Edmond. Clarice attended Central State College, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in Library Science. She worked at the OK State Library, was awarded a scholarship for graduate studies, and received her Master’s degree in Library Science at OU. Clarice was a Reference Librarian for the Metropolitan Library system, serving the Main, Capitol Hill, Village, and Belle Isle branches. An opportunity to return to school libraries appeared, and she became a Librarian at U.S. Grant High School and Jefferson Middle School (OKC). Clarice was the very 1st Elementary Library Media Coordinator at Will Rogers Elementary (Edmond) in the 1970’s. During summers, she substituted as a Reference and Children’s Librarian at Edmond Public Library, and taught Library Science courses as an adjunct professor at OSU (Stillwater) and CSU (Edmond). Later she accepted a position as State Library Media Coordinator at the OK State Department of Education, and later retired there as the Assistant Administrator of Library Resources.

Clarice was a member of several professional Librarian organizations, Sequoyah Children’s Book Award Committee, and the Oklahoma County Retired Teachers Association (she was awarded their Pioneer Award in 2015). She was listed in “Who’s Who in Library and Information Services” as well as “A Biographical Directory of Librarians in the U.S. and Canada”.

Survivors include her daughter Robin, son Jim, grandson Jeff, and great-grandson Tyson, several nieces and nephews, and special friends. Services will be held on November 19, 2018 at 3:00 pm at Gracelawn Cemetery, Edmond.