In Memoriam

Oka Thompson Negley
February 26, 1926 - November 1, 2013

It is with a heavy heart that I report the passing of the grand lady who ran my office so efficiently for 35 years. Oka retired in 2010. She was married to Robert H. (Pete) Negley for 60 years. Pete passed away in 2007. Oka is survived by her sister Vivian, children, Dana and Diane, a grandson David, a great granddaughter Kaityln and Tammy, her favorite niece.

In 1975 I hired several secretaries only to find they used white out by the barrel or couldn't spell. In despair my wife Elizabeth said, "You need Oka." They were long-time friends and sorority sisters. Oka was a church secretary when Elizabeth invited her to lunch and asked her to join our company. She did and there is no doubt that she had a strong influence in our company's success over the years through her hard work and dedication to her job.

Oka was perfect. She was prim and proper and always there when needed. When necessary she would work twelve hours without a question. She took short hand as fast as I could talk and typed 90 words-per-minute flawlessly. Oka didn't say much, but when she did it was meaningful and I learned to listen. At Mini-Clinics she kept me on track with Que cards and at every convention she was the official greeter with the beautiful smile. Thousands of our customers from around the world considered Oka a friend.

Over the years she developed a vast knowledge of intellectual property law and worked closely with our lawyers to protect the rights of our customers and our company in the use of our copyrighted ads and trademarks that have proved to be so valuable.

Dr. Herb True, PhD, speaking at our 1976 convention pointed to Oka as a person we should all imitate. He said, "Oka has a smile that would ripen a banana."

That's how I will always remember her.