Ginger Lu

Olsen

Ginger Lu (Lewis) Olsen, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2020, surrounded by the Lord's grace and loving family, in Dibble, Oklahoma.

Ginger was born January 27, 1951 in Oklahoma City and was adopted there by Grady and Maxine (Steele) Lewis and raised in Caney, Kansas and the Chicago area. Grady, who was a former pro basketball player and coach, instilled a fierce competitive streak coupled with a reverence for God in his daughter. She had the face of an angel and the heart of a tomboy. Her love and respect for her maternal grandfather, Harry Steele, and the farm in Caney bonded her to animals of any kind.

Ginger attended Franklin Elementary School and graduated from Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Illinois. Classmates say she always spoke to truth and defended the weak. She had riding lessons and became an excellent English horsewoman. After graduation, she married her childhood sweetheart James Scherling and they attended Baylor University together. A car accident a year later robbed her of his life, half her sight and part of her health. But she was a fighter and she never let that define the rest of her life. She was told she would most likely only last a year or never walk or have children – she outlived all the doctors, had three children and rode horses as she said "Hell bent for election".

Over the years Ginger lived in various places: Western Springs Illinois, Scottsdale Arizona, Leadville Colorado and for the last 32 years in Chino Valley Arizona, but she always said her heart was in Oklahoma.

When one met Ginger, the first impression of the ditzy blond with the riot of hair and Carol Channing smile quickly dissipated in the glow of a brilliant mind and her sharp wit.

Ginger had many jobs over the years such as receptionist, vet tech, insurance, dog trainer, running the gates at the Yavapai Auction and a ranch in Chino Valley. Her work with the FFA and all the children and people she touched with her goats, chickens and horses were important, but Wife, Mother and Grandmother were the tasks she excelled and flourished in.

Her cooking was legendary and even more so for a woman with no sense of smell and only one eye. Many family Christmas memories were made with her food, singing and piano talent. She, and the whole family, loved receiving the gifts she had purchased then hidden, then forgotten. How she handled her short term memory issues made Ginger endearing and sweet. She was always there for friends from a political meeting in her living room to comforting someone for hours in her milking room.

She had the courage to dream, when so many had been shattered, and the strength to make them come true. But her kindness, even to others who may have done her wrong, will be most missed by those who knew her. Animal or human she would do or pay whatever was needed to save a life - forever G-ma.

Ginger is survived by her husband, James Olsen of Chino Valley, Arizona; son, James and Philomena (Coelho) Vosecky of Concho, Arizona; son, Joshua Vosecky of Chino Valley, Arizona; and grandchildren JR, Stephen, Grady and Alexis of Leadville Colorado; grandson, Michael Weber of Grand Lake, Colorado; and Rebekah's sons, Carter and Hunter Brooks of Flagstaff Arizona; sisters-in-law Bonnie Olsen of San Clemente, California, Audry (Facchini) Olsen of Ithaca, New York, and Paulette (Ashinhurst) Lewis of Peoria Arizona.

Very late in her life, Ginger was blessed to find her bio family with her sister, Linda (Middlebrooks) Bourne and husband Joe of Dibble, Oklahoma including nephews James, Randy, Shannon and Shane Short of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Eddie Joe and Candy (Walker) Bourne of Blanchard, Oklahoma, niece Jo Anna Bourne of Alex, Oklahoma, and all their grandchildren Megan, Kellie, Tessa, Bret, Jayden and Easton.

Ginger was preceded in death by her daughter Rebekah Leigh Ritter, first husband, James Scherling, parents, Grady and Maxine, and brother, Rodney S Lewis.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring when all who were in her heart are safe to travel. Instead of flowers, please consider a donation to your local animal shelter, Ginger would like that.  A private burial was held in the Dibble Cemetery in Dibble, Oklahoma.  Arrangements are under the direction of Eisenhour Funeral Home of Blanchard.  Online obituary and guestbook are available atwww.eisenhourfh.com.