Adam Sallee

Long time Collinsville resident and World War II veteran, Adam
Sallee, left this earthly life Wednesday, August 18, 2010, at the age of
93 years.
Adam was born January 22, 1917, in Collinsville. He was youngest
son of early day pioneers, R. G. and Erma Neller (Wilson) Sallee and
attended Collinsville schools, graduating in 1935. Determined to
attend college, he enrolled in Oklahoma A & M, (now O.S.U.) where
he received his vocal music degree in 1941. As a member of the A &
M “Wrangler” quartet and “Aggie” quartet, he traveled throughout the
state promoting A & M. While in college, Adam made many friends as
a member of Farmhouse Fraternity.
After graduation, he taught music at Durant High School. During the
months preceding the U.S.’s involvement in WW II, he was classified
as 4-F due to an arm injury when he was thrown from a horse. Late in
October 1941 while he was still teaching, his classification changed
and he joined the U.S. Army as he began basic training at Ft Benning,
Georgia.
In the late summer of 1943, while in Nashville on a weekend pass, he
visited the USO Club where he met Katherine Shearer from Indiana.
Music brought them together around the piano. Their courtship began
in earnest through daily letters over the next nine months. On June 13,
1944, they were married at Old Bethel Methodist Church in
Indianapolis. Corporal Sallee was a radio technician with the HQ of
the 61st Armored Infantry Battalion, 10th Armored Division. Their
task force fought in the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), the Rhineland,
and Central Europe. He returned home in September 1945, choosing
to live and farm near Katy’s parents in Indianapolis.
Four children were born during the next six years. They joined Old
Bethel Church where he was choir director and served in church
leadership capacities. In 1951 Adam’s father, R. G., died, leaving the
dairy farm in Collinsville without a manager. After much prayer and
consideration of the pros and cons of moving to Oklahoma in the midst
of a drought, Adam and Katherine decided to gamble and make the
move in 1954. Moving four children, household goods, and farm
equipment was a real challenge especially since Adam had injured his
hand the day before. The family struggled and worked hard rebuilding
a retail dairy business, which was in operation for two years. In August
1957, a devastating fire destroyed the dairy operation. From that point
on, milk was sold in bulk only. After the fire, Adam became a Farm
Bureau Insurance Agent for a short time. In 1965, the Adam Sallee
family was named the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Farm Family of the
Year.
Adam served on several boards including the Tulsa County Farm
Bureau and the American Milk Producers Association (AMPI)
cooperative. As an AMPI representative for farmers across the
southern region of the country, he met with President Ford in
determining legislation for the dairy industry. For several years, he
served on the Collinsville Tri-County Fair Board and in 1977 left the
majority of the dairy responsibilities to his son Robert, in order to
manage the local Co-op. The Collinsville Chamber of Commerce
awarded Adam the Silver Tray in 1995, in recognition of his many
contributions to the community.
Adam accepted Christ as his savior when he was a teenager. From that
point, God was his compass through life. Adam remained a faithful
Christian and was an active member and lay leader of the United
Methodist Church. He was a Sunday School teacher and Choir
Director in addition to serving on several boards and committees both
at the local and district level. Throughout his life, he shared his vocal
talents by singing at many weddings, funerals and civic events,
including church services for the troops during World War II.
In 2004, his wife of 59 years Katherine, passed away. He is survived
by his five children: Susan and Mike Worstell of Collinsville; Berbyl
Hagar of Tulsa; Becky and Gary Stotler of Choctaw; Robert and
Barbara Sallee of Okmulgee and Mary Sallee and Larry Johnson of
Norman; several grandchildren and great grandchildren and special
loving friend, Mabel Hodge and son, Scott and family. Adam was
preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and two sisters.

Visitation will be Saturday, August 21, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.

The Family will be present from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 23, 2010 at the Meadowcreek United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Building Fund at the Meadow Creek United Methodist Church.