Homes for the Holidays

Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 1 to join Junior Ocieleta on its 29th annual Christmas Home Tour.

The women of the Junior Ocieleta Club are gearing up to host the 29th annual Christmas Home Tour. The tour will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 1, 2012.  

    This year’s tour will feature the following five residential homes: Nate and Lisa Saylor, 14282 E. Glenwood Dr.; Chad and Misty Choat 25116 S. 4150 Rd.; Mike and Arlene Brown, 13825 E. 460 Rd.; Eric and Jamie Kennedy, 14851 E. Fieldstone Dr. S.; and Ashley Snyder, 910 W. 6th St.  

    Members of the Junior Ocieleta Club will be present at each home to welcome attendees and to answer any questions. The homes will be decorated for the holidays according to the ­personalities of each individual family and are sure to inspire the Christmas spirit in tour ­attendees.

    “We had the home at 910 W. 6th St. on the tour last year while it was still under construction as a Habitat for Humanity home,” says Savannah Haddock, club president. “When Ashley volunteered to let us showcase it again, we thought it would be great to bring it back for our attendees to see the completed project. The home will be decorated with ­inexpensive design ideas that ­anyone can do, which we think our guests will also appreciate.”

    The Junior Ocieleta Club was started by philanthropist Ocie Mayberry on September 27, 1956, to give young women an opportunity to work together to support local charity needs. Ocie passed away in 1987, just four years after the first Home Tour. But her legacy lives on as 100 ­percent of the proceeds from the tour still go to help fund ­community projects and ­organizations in Claremore, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, CASA, Claremore Public Schools Foundation, Safenet Services, Bit by Bit, the Manger and Friends of the Library.

    As an added treat on this 29th tour, Janelle Dover Hankinson, the granddaughter of Ocie Mayberry, will be visiting from Seattle to attend.

    “I’m very excited to have the opportunity to attend this year’s tour,” said Janelle. “It’s a privilege to see the ladies and projects that are inspired by the hard work and dedication of my grandmother.”  

    Tickets are $10. To purchase tickets visit: Belvidere Mansion, Crafted: An Artisan Boutique, Floral Creations, Gripado's Deli, Hoovers Have All Mall, J&J Pharmacy, Lilack Salon, The Nut House, The Pink House and Uniquely Susie's, or contact a Junior Ocieleta member!

    “Large groups and bus tours are also welcome, though we do ask that you make advance ­reservations to save wait time at the homes,” said Haddock. Sponsors of the annual event to date include RCB Bank, Roe Creative, Grand Bank, Community Home Health, Neely Insurance & Financial Services, Crumpton Aviation, Rogers County Abstract, Melton Sales, Walmart and Sander’s Concrete Construction.

    “We are very appreciative of our generous sponsors. Their contributions pay for ticket ­printing, advertising and all other expenses associated with the event,” added Haddock. “Thanks to them, all of our proceeds from ticket sales are able to be ­funneled back into the ­community, rather than spent on the event itself.” For more information, search Junior Ocieleta Christmas Home Tour on Facebook. 

For more information, contact

Junior Ocieleta Club

(918) 951-0804