In Memory of Carol Fincher (1932 – 2018)

The Rev. Carol Fincher died on December 22, 2018 at the age of 86.

Carol was born on December 25, 1932 in Fairfax, OK to parents Ed Armel Fincher and Dorothy Ellen Fincher. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the Southern Connecticut State University, CT in 1980 following which she earned her Master of Divinity from the Starr King School for Ministry, CA in 1986.

Rev. Fincher was ordained on April 27, 1986 by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica, NY. Following her ordination, she served the Unitarian Church of Charlotte, NC as a Summer Minister from June 1986 to August 1986, and ministered at the Amarillo UU Fellowship in Amarillo, TX for two years. In the year 1988, she was called to the UU Church of Stillwater, OK where she would serve from 1988 until 1994. Then for nearly half a decade, Rev. Fincher performed a series of Parish ministries at three congregations: the UU Society of Mill Creek, Newark, DE (1994-1995); the May Memorial UU Society, Syracuse, NY (1995-1996); and finally, at the Community UU Congregation, Tulsa, OK (1996-1998).

Rev. Fincher carried out a great deal of service on behalf of the denomination. She was on Board for the Southwest UU District for three years and Chair for the 1994 Nominating Committee of the Board. She functioned as a member of the Unitarian Universalist Minister’s Association and the Liberal Ministers of the Delaware Valley (Unitarian Universalist). Furthermore, Rev. Fincher served as a Convener for the UU Ministerial Group in Tulsa, OK.

Outside her denominational work, Carol belonged to several community organizations. She was member of the Delaware Nature Society; the National Conference on Christian and Jews; the Alban Institute; and the Interfaith Interim Ministers Association. She served on the Board for the Neighborhood Nursery, an organization that provided low cost childcare to the low-income families. She also wrote a column for the Southwest Women in Religion Newsletter and had numerous of her articles published in the Hockessin Community News. One of her pieces, “Unitarian and Universalist: History, Beliefs, Rites of Passage” was published by the Stillwater News and Press. In her spare time, Carol enjoyed jewelry making, paper making, photography, music and ballet.

Carol is survived by her sister Dorothy Davis; her children Dennis DeGraad (Jeanne) and Ellen DeGraad; her grandchildren Kevin DeGraad, Derek DeGraad (Caitlin) and Jack DeGraad (Faith); and her several nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one’s own choosing, as well as to the UU Church of Stillwater, 320 S Stallard St, Stillwater, OK 74074.

A celebration of Carol’s life took place at 3 pm on Saturday, January 12th, 2019 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Stillwater, 320 S Stallard St, Stillwater, OK 74074.

Notes of condolences may be sent to Ellen DeGraad at 829 N Burdick St Apt A, Stillwater, OK 74075.