Omer Meeker

OMER DEAN MEEKER
April 5, 1927 - November 29, 2015

Omer Meeker passed away on November 29, 2015 in
Bakersfield, CA during a brief stay in the hospital. At
age 88, he was still vibrant and his mental acuity was
amazing.
Omer was born and raised in Nebraska. He learned to
hunt and fish at an early age. During his high school years, he ran track and
played basketball and baseball. Upon graduation from high school he joined the
military.
After serving overseas in the Army during WWII, Omer returned to Nebraska and
graduated from Peru State Teachers College. There, he still holds the record for
most points scored in a game - 57. Omer was named an All-American in
basketball and was described by his teammates as 180 pounds of dynamite. He
was also inducted into the Helms Hall of Fame. After graduating college, he
played one year for the AAU team from the Allen-Bradley Company of
Milwaukee. He migrated to California and played several seasons as part of the
semi-pro Santa Maria Golden Dukes basketball team and settled down to teach
elementary school in the Orcutt School District as well as biology, kinesiology,
physiology and anatomy at Santa Maria High School and Allan Hancock
College. During that time, he also earned his Masters degree in education. He
was a successful baseball and football coach, and even more so, a beloved and
respected educator for thirty-two years.
Omer played guitar throughout his life, starting from his very early beginnings
accompanying his father, who played the fiddle. He had his own dance band for
almost forty years playing gigs throughout the central coast. He was an avid
fisherman and loved his garden and fruit trees. Omer thought the only way to
barbecue was to do it Santa Maria style. He was a huge fan of the Dodgers and
followed the Lakers. After retiring in 1982, he remained active in many
endeavors throughout his life in Lake Tahoe, Carson City, Nevada and finally,
Bakersfield, California.

Omer never met anyone he couldn't talk to and he loved to tell jokes and stories.
This remarkable human being was full of life and made everyone's life richer for
having known him with his wonderful sense of humor and love of people. He has
left a trail of cherished memories for all of us.

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Omer is survived by his wife, Dorothy, five children and numerous grandchildren
and great grandchildren.