Olean M. Sheets, 96, of rural Columbia City, died peacefully, with her granddaughter, Jennifer, by her side at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at Millers Merry Manor, Columbia City.

Born on November 18, 1925, in Conway, South Carolina, she was a daughter of the late Ernest and Betty (Allen) Driggers.  Growing up in Miami, FL, she graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in Miami.

On May 13, 1945, she married Dale L. Sheets in Miami.  The couple then moved to Washington Twp., Whitley County where they became life-long residents.  Dale died on December 6, 2018.

Olean began her work career at Ion Capacitors, Columbia City then Memcor in Huntington where she had 25 years of service retiring in 1990.

Through the years, Olean maintained fabulous flower gardens that adorned her home.  The couple received accolades for their flowers by being featured in the local newspapers.  When not working around the home, she enjoyed painting lawn accoutrements in her favorite colors of pink or gold.  The couple enjoyed traveling, often by motorcycle.  In their retirement years, they wintered in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Surviving are two sons, Lloyd Wayne (Jennifer) Sheets of Columbia City and Ronald L. Sheets of Fort Wayne; a granddaughter, Jennifer (Matthew) Dickmeyer of South Whitley; two step-grandsons, Christian Deckard and David (Amber) Deckard; six great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren and a sister, Geraldine Wagner of Palm Beach, FL.

The funeral is 2 p.m. Saturday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial is at the South Park Annex Cemetery.  Visitation is from 12 noon until the service Saturday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials are to American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).