Agnes Louise Synar met her late husband Val for Easter Mass on April 17, 2022, at the age of 93 years old. Born on October 1, 1928, in the bedroom of a farm house outside a former town named Trousdale, OK, she was the 3rd of 5 children of Otis "Pete" Abbott and Freda Limke.
Agnes and her family had a small farm where they raised crops (corn) and a variety of animals, especially dairy cows. Agnes and her older sister, Margaret, would walk 2 miles on the country dirt roads to a school in Trousdale. There were times where they would pull their polio afflicted brother, Burnis, in a small wagon to go to school. While in high school Agnes became a basketball star and earned a scholarship to play on the first ever women's basketball team at Connors State College in Warner, OK. She currently is nominated for Conner's State Athletic Hall of Fame.
While enjoying her basketball scholarship at Connors State College, Agnes majored in commerce, served as the sophomore class secretary-treasurer, was crowned Football Queen, and worked as a secretary for the college president, but most importantly met the love of her life - Val Synar. Val, who worked at a milk barn would court Agnes up on a hill at Conners. "My roommate worked in the kitchen, and she'd let me sneak out to meet up with Val and go court'n," Agnes said. "Best sugar you ever had. That's where we'd park and smooch like every living thing," she said. "That's where Val proposed to me."
Their romance was delayed on December 5, 1946, when Val followed in all five of his brothers' footsteps to serve in the military occupation of Japan after World War II. Agnes stayed at Conners, graduated, and worked in Oklahoma City at the state's transportation department. Upon his January 10, 1948, discharge, Val returned to Agnes, marrying in November of that year. Their journey led them to Miami, OK, then on to OSU, where in 1951 Agnes and Val welcomed their first son Glenn.
After moving to Pryor, OK, they welcomed their second son, Larry in 1954. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in July 1955 when Glenn died in a livestock equipment accident.
After the birth of their third son, David, in 1956, Agnes and Val left Pryor and moved to a house in the western part of Tulsa, OK. While Val started the National Livestock Commission Company at the Tulsa Stockyards located off Charles Page Boulevard, Agnes was busy raising her 2 sons. In 1957 after a year of living in the city, she and Val rented a small farm west of Owasso, OK. In 1959, Val left his commission company at the Tulsa Stockyards and they bought the beginnings of their ranch west of Oologah, OK. There they raised Herford and Angus cattle. Agnes assisted Val in running the ranch as well as growing a vegetable garden, canning, making clothes and participating in the OSU Home Economics Extension Service. She presented various craft, cooking and home making skills to the local area and county. She entered many crafts and baked goods in the county and state fairs. Agnes retired from her OSU Extension Service as the new stockyards concept came into existence.
Together in 1964, Agnes and Val borrowed money and started a life-long passion project by building a new style of stockyards called the "Tulsa Cow Palace" located in East Tulsa. They provided office space for commission companies, a western store, and a restaurant with a large dining room. Agnes headed up the accounting department, as well as being the restaurant's manager and buyer. She also served as Val's personal secretary. As their family grew up with their two sons Larry and David, they too would also immerse themselves in the family business working the stockyards and the resident Cattlemen's Restaurant, as well as running the family ranch. Together, they built and operated "The Cow Palace" for many years changing its name to "Tulsa Agricultural Center" before selling it in 1973. It is now known today as "The Tulsa Stockyards." Ask Agnes, how did they manage to do it all, and she'll tell you – "We worked our butts off!"
After the sale of the stockyards, Agnes and Val returned to their ranching life as the brothers attended college and pursued careers. Agnes was an accomplished vegetable and flower gardener where she canned and froze vegetables of all types. Hence this made her an outstanding cook. She could throw down a Thanksgiving Dinner for 7 that would rival any restaurant. Her baking skills drew envy from relatives where she was known for one of many favorite desserts, Chocolate Chiffon Pie with real whip cream. As the years passed, Agnes and Val moved out of their original house into a remodeled one, an eighth of a mile away. In their retirement years, Agnes kept busy caring for Val and cooking for holiday family occasions. She also helped her son, David, continue the vegetable garden, as well as caring for her flowers, especially roses. Her home was surrounded on 3 sides with flower beds that she tended to. This brought another joy in her life, watching and feeding hummingbirds.
In 2018, when Val passed away, Diana Dickinson came into Agnes's life as her personal assistant and friend. On, Easter Sunday the 17th of April, Agnes peacefully passed surrounded by her loved ones. You would often hear her say "Life is so short, especially when you get older. Live your life to the fullest."
Agnes and her family had a small farm where they raised crops (corn) and a variety of animals, especially dairy cows. Agnes and her older sister, Margaret, would walk 2 miles on the country dirt roads to a school in Trousdale. There were times where they would pull their polio afflicted brother, Burnis, in a small wagon to go to school. While in high school Agnes became a basketball star and earned a scholarship to play on the first ever women's basketball team at Connors State College in Warner, OK. She currently is nominated for Conner's State Athletic Hall of Fame.
While enjoying her basketball scholarship at Connors State College, Agnes majored in commerce, served as the sophomore class secretary-treasurer, was crowned Football Queen, and worked as a secretary for the college president, but most importantly met the love of her life - Val Synar. Val, who worked at a milk barn would court Agnes up on a hill at Conners. "My roommate worked in the kitchen, and she'd let me sneak out to meet up with Val and go court'n," Agnes said. "Best sugar you ever had. That's where we'd park and smooch like every living thing," she said. "That's where Val proposed to me."
Their romance was delayed on December 5, 1946, when Val followed in all five of his brothers' footsteps to serve in the military occupation of Japan after World War II. Agnes stayed at Conners, graduated, and worked in Oklahoma City at the state's transportation department. Upon his January 10, 1948, discharge, Val returned to Agnes, marrying in November of that year. Their journey led them to Miami, OK, then on to OSU, where in 1951 Agnes and Val welcomed their first son Glenn.
After moving to Pryor, OK, they welcomed their second son, Larry in 1954. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in July 1955 when Glenn died in a livestock equipment accident.
After the birth of their third son, David, in 1956, Agnes and Val left Pryor and moved to a house in the western part of Tulsa, OK. While Val started the National Livestock Commission Company at the Tulsa Stockyards located off Charles Page Boulevard, Agnes was busy raising her 2 sons. In 1957 after a year of living in the city, she and Val rented a small farm west of Owasso, OK. In 1959, Val left his commission company at the Tulsa Stockyards and they bought the beginnings of their ranch west of Oologah, OK. There they raised Herford and Angus cattle. Agnes assisted Val in running the ranch as well as growing a vegetable garden, canning, making clothes and participating in the OSU Home Economics Extension Service. She presented various craft, cooking and home making skills to the local area and county. She entered many crafts and baked goods in the county and state fairs. Agnes retired from her OSU Extension Service as the new stockyards concept came into existence.
Together in 1964, Agnes and Val borrowed money and started a life-long passion project by building a new style of stockyards called the "Tulsa Cow Palace" located in East Tulsa. They provided office space for commission companies, a western store, and a restaurant with a large dining room. Agnes headed up the accounting department, as well as being the restaurant's manager and buyer. She also served as Val's personal secretary. As their family grew up with their two sons Larry and David, they too would also immerse themselves in the family business working the stockyards and the resident Cattlemen's Restaurant, as well as running the family ranch. Together, they built and operated "The Cow Palace" for many years changing its name to "Tulsa Agricultural Center" before selling it in 1973. It is now known today as "The Tulsa Stockyards." Ask Agnes, how did they manage to do it all, and she'll tell you – "We worked our butts off!"
After the sale of the stockyards, Agnes and Val returned to their ranching life as the brothers attended college and pursued careers. Agnes was an accomplished vegetable and flower gardener where she canned and froze vegetables of all types. Hence this made her an outstanding cook. She could throw down a Thanksgiving Dinner for 7 that would rival any restaurant. Her baking skills drew envy from relatives where she was known for one of many favorite desserts, Chocolate Chiffon Pie with real whip cream. As the years passed, Agnes and Val moved out of their original house into a remodeled one, an eighth of a mile away. In their retirement years, Agnes kept busy caring for Val and cooking for holiday family occasions. She also helped her son, David, continue the vegetable garden, as well as caring for her flowers, especially roses. Her home was surrounded on 3 sides with flower beds that she tended to. This brought another joy in her life, watching and feeding hummingbirds.
In 2018, when Val passed away, Diana Dickinson came into Agnes's life as her personal assistant and friend. On, Easter Sunday the 17th of April, Agnes peacefully passed surrounded by her loved ones. You would often hear her say "Life is so short, especially when you get older. Live your life to the fullest."
Agnes Louise Synar met her late husband Val for Easter Mass on April 17, 2022, at the age of 93 years old. Born on October 1, 1928, in the bedroom of a farm house outside a former town named Trousdale, OK, she was the 3rd of 5 children of Otis "Pete" Abbott and Freda Limke.
Agnes and her family had a small farm where they raised crops (corn) and a variety of animals, especially dairy cows. Agnes and her older sister, Margaret, would walk 2 miles on the country dirt roads to a school in Trousdale. There were times where they would pull their polio afflicted brother, Burnis, in a small wagon to go to school. While in high school Agnes became a basketball star and earned a scholarship to play on the first ever women's basketball team at Connors State College in Warner, OK. She currently is nominated for Conner's State Athletic Hall of Fame.
While enjoying her basketball scholarship at Connors State College, Agnes majored in commerce, served as the sophomore class secretary-treasurer, was crowned Football Queen, and worked as a secretary for the college president, but most importantly met the love of her life - Val Synar. Val, who worked at a milk barn would court Agnes up on a hill at Conners. "My roommate worked in the kitchen, and she'd let me sneak out to meet up with Val and go court'n," Agnes said. "Best sugar you ever had. That's where we'd park and smooch like every living thing," she said. "That's where Val proposed to me."
Their romance was delayed on December 5, 1946, when Val followed in all five of his brothers' footsteps to serve in the military occupation of Japan after World War II. Agnes stayed at Conners, graduated, and worked in Oklahoma City at the state's transportation department. Upon his January 10, 1948, discharge, Val returned to Agnes, marrying in November of that year. Their journey led them to Miami, OK, then on to OSU, where in 1951 Agnes and Val welcomed their first son Glenn.
After moving to Pryor, OK, they welcomed their second son, Larry in 1954. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in July 1955 when Glenn died in a livestock equipment accident.
After the birth of their third son, David, in 1956, Agnes and Val left Pryor and moved to a house in the western part of Tulsa, OK. While Val started the National Livestock Commission Company at the Tulsa Stockyards located off Charles Page Boulevard, Agnes was busy raising her 2 sons. In 1957 after a year of living in the city, she and Val rented a small farm west of Owasso, OK. In 1959, Val left his commission company at the Tulsa Stockyards and they bought the beginnings of their ranch west of Oologah, OK. There they raised Herford and Angus cattle. Agnes assisted Val in running the ranch as well as growing a vegetable garden, canning, making clothes and participating in the OSU Home Economics Extension Service. She presented various craft, cooking and home making skills to the local area and county. She entered many crafts and baked goods in the county and state fairs. Agnes retired from her OSU Extension Service as the new stockyards concept came into existence.
Together in 1964, Agnes and Val borrowed money and started a life-long passion project by building a new style of stockyards called the "Tulsa Cow Palace" located in East Tulsa. They provided office space for commission companies, a western store, and a restaurant with a large dining room. Agnes headed up the accounting department, as well as being the restaurant's manager and buyer. She also served as Val's personal secretary. As their family grew up with their two sons Larry and David, they too would also immerse themselves in the family business working the stockyards and the resident Cattlemen's Restaurant, as well as running the family ranch. Together, they built and operated "The Cow Palace" for many years changing its name to "Tulsa Agricultural Center" before selling it in 1973. It is now known today as "The Tulsa Stockyards." Ask Agnes, how did they manage to do it all, and she'll tell you – "We worked our butts off!"
After the sale of the stockyards, Agnes and Val returned to their ranching life as the brothers attended college and pursued careers. Agnes was an accomplished vegetable and flower gardener where she canned and froze vegetables of all types. Hence this made her an outstanding cook. She could throw down a Thanksgiving Dinner for 7 that would rival any restaurant. Her baking skills drew envy from relatives where she was known for one of many favorite desserts, Chocolate Chiffon Pie with real whip cream. As the years passed, Agnes and Val moved out of their original house into a remodeled one, an eighth of a mile away. In their retirement years, Agnes kept busy caring for Val and cooking for holiday family occasions. She also helped her son, David, continue the vegetable garden, as well as caring for her flowers, especially roses. Her home was surrounded on 3 sides with flower beds that she tended to. This brought another joy in her life, watching and feeding hummingbirds.
In 2018, when Val passed away, Diana Dickinson came into Agnes's life as her personal assistant and friend. On, Easter Sunday the 17th of April, Agnes peacefully passed surrounded by her loved ones. You would often hear her say "Life is so short, especially when you get older. Live your life to the fullest."
Agnes and her family had a small farm where they raised crops (corn) and a variety of animals, especially dairy cows. Agnes and her older sister, Margaret, would walk 2 miles on the country dirt roads to a school in Trousdale. There were times where they would pull their polio afflicted brother, Burnis, in a small wagon to go to school. While in high school Agnes became a basketball star and earned a scholarship to play on the first ever women's basketball team at Connors State College in Warner, OK. She currently is nominated for Conner's State Athletic Hall of Fame.
While enjoying her basketball scholarship at Connors State College, Agnes majored in commerce, served as the sophomore class secretary-treasurer, was crowned Football Queen, and worked as a secretary for the college president, but most importantly met the love of her life - Val Synar. Val, who worked at a milk barn would court Agnes up on a hill at Conners. "My roommate worked in the kitchen, and she'd let me sneak out to meet up with Val and go court'n," Agnes said. "Best sugar you ever had. That's where we'd park and smooch like every living thing," she said. "That's where Val proposed to me."
Their romance was delayed on December 5, 1946, when Val followed in all five of his brothers' footsteps to serve in the military occupation of Japan after World War II. Agnes stayed at Conners, graduated, and worked in Oklahoma City at the state's transportation department. Upon his January 10, 1948, discharge, Val returned to Agnes, marrying in November of that year. Their journey led them to Miami, OK, then on to OSU, where in 1951 Agnes and Val welcomed their first son Glenn.
After moving to Pryor, OK, they welcomed their second son, Larry in 1954. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in July 1955 when Glenn died in a livestock equipment accident.
After the birth of their third son, David, in 1956, Agnes and Val left Pryor and moved to a house in the western part of Tulsa, OK. While Val started the National Livestock Commission Company at the Tulsa Stockyards located off Charles Page Boulevard, Agnes was busy raising her 2 sons. In 1957 after a year of living in the city, she and Val rented a small farm west of Owasso, OK. In 1959, Val left his commission company at the Tulsa Stockyards and they bought the beginnings of their ranch west of Oologah, OK. There they raised Herford and Angus cattle. Agnes assisted Val in running the ranch as well as growing a vegetable garden, canning, making clothes and participating in the OSU Home Economics Extension Service. She presented various craft, cooking and home making skills to the local area and county. She entered many crafts and baked goods in the county and state fairs. Agnes retired from her OSU Extension Service as the new stockyards concept came into existence.
Together in 1964, Agnes and Val borrowed money and started a life-long passion project by building a new style of stockyards called the "Tulsa Cow Palace" located in East Tulsa. They provided office space for commission companies, a western store, and a restaurant with a large dining room. Agnes headed up the accounting department, as well as being the restaurant's manager and buyer. She also served as Val's personal secretary. As their family grew up with their two sons Larry and David, they too would also immerse themselves in the family business working the stockyards and the resident Cattlemen's Restaurant, as well as running the family ranch. Together, they built and operated "The Cow Palace" for many years changing its name to "Tulsa Agricultural Center" before selling it in 1973. It is now known today as "The Tulsa Stockyards." Ask Agnes, how did they manage to do it all, and she'll tell you – "We worked our butts off!"
After the sale of the stockyards, Agnes and Val returned to their ranching life as the brothers attended college and pursued careers. Agnes was an accomplished vegetable and flower gardener where she canned and froze vegetables of all types. Hence this made her an outstanding cook. She could throw down a Thanksgiving Dinner for 7 that would rival any restaurant. Her baking skills drew envy from relatives where she was known for one of many favorite desserts, Chocolate Chiffon Pie with real whip cream. As the years passed, Agnes and Val moved out of their original house into a remodeled one, an eighth of a mile away. In their retirement years, Agnes kept busy caring for Val and cooking for holiday family occasions. She also helped her son, David, continue the vegetable garden, as well as caring for her flowers, especially roses. Her home was surrounded on 3 sides with flower beds that she tended to. This brought another joy in her life, watching and feeding hummingbirds.
In 2018, when Val passed away, Diana Dickinson came into Agnes's life as her personal assistant and friend. On, Easter Sunday the 17th of April, Agnes peacefully passed surrounded by her loved ones. You would often hear her say "Life is so short, especially when you get older. Live your life to the fullest."
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