Obituary of W. Jean Oliver

W. Jean Humphrey Oliver, mother of 10 If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. W. Jean Humphrey Oliver not only preached that credo to her 10 children, she lived by it herself. The Erlanger resident died Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. She was 70. Mrs. Oliver embraced people's differences and loved everyone - regardless of their background. "She always rooted for the underdog," said a daughter, Ola Sewell, of Burlington. Regardless if they were adults, people in her neighborhood or her children, her mother was on their side, Sewell said. Mrs. Oliver married Robert Oliver Sr. soon after graduating from Simon Kenton High School. "It was pretty much love at first sight," said Sewell. The Olivers started their family in 1956. She continued to have children until 1976 with the birth of her eighth son. "Sometimes, she had to be mean as a striped snake to keep all 10 of us in line," Sewell said. "But she was a great mom." Though Mrs. Oliver didn't have much time for hobbies, she really enjoyed reading. She also liked to collect bells. She had approximately 400 bells of all shapes and sizes in her collection. "She would always say, 'Each bell has a distinct ring, just like each individual person has a distinct personality. No two are alike,'" Sewell said. After decades raising her family, Mrs. Oliver went to work in 1983 at the old Booth Memorial Hospital in Florence. For two years, she worked third shift there, delivering supplies and transporting patients to their vehicles or to different rooms for testing. She only worked on the weekends and loved her job. "She spent all of the money she made on her grandchildren," Sewell said. "She loved with all of her heart." Survivors in addition to her husband and daughter are sons, Bobby Oliver of Erlanger, Mike Oliver of Cincinnati, Steve Oliver of Walton, Kevin Oliver, Shawn Oliver, Brian Oliver, and Tad Oliver, all of Florence, and John Oliver of Dayton; another daughter, Karen Gross of Union; brothers, Tom Humphrey of Morning View and Kenny Humphrey of Dry Ridge; a sister, Charlotte Huff of Independence; 24 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45229.