Deerfield’s annual Summer Celebration is coming this weekend, and throngs of people will converge on the little town to partake in its down-home hospitality. The late Oliver and Hazel Shriver knew a thing or two about hospitality. Both were strong leaders in the Deerfield community, and their contributions there and in the surrounding area are still felt to this day.
Oliver W. Shriver was born December 26, 1903 on a farm near Clearwater, Kans., the third son of Aza and Ruby (Coulson) Shriver. When Oliver was six, the family moved to Barber County where he grew to manhood. In the late teens, Oliver’s parents bought land near Hooker, Okla., but later traded this for land near Moscow, Kans. At this time, Oliver and his father entered into a farming partnership whereby Oliver was the “suitcase” farmer during the summer months and returned to the family farm near Lake City, Kans. in the winter to help his father feed cattle and hogs. Oliver eventually bought out the partnership and moved to Deerfield in 1928.
Hazel Adeline Steenis was born September 21, 1907 at a farm just southwest of Hartford, Kansas, the oldest of three daughters born to John “Jack” and Edith Brewer Steenis. In 1913, Hazel and her family moved to Kearny County and settled on a farm near Deerfield where she attended school and graduated from Deerfield High School with the class of 1926. After attending Emporia Teachers College for two years, she returned to Kearny County and taught for one year at a rural school north of Deerfield known as Harmony Hill.
It was fate that Oliver’s and Hazel’s paths would cross, and in June of 1936, they were married in the court house at Garden City. They immediately moved to the Rector farm north of Deerfield where they spent nearly 40 years acquiring land, developing irrigation and growing with the times. Hazel worked alongside Oliver, playing a major role in the success of their farming operation. In 1974, the couple moved into Deerfield, but then left in 1978 for Arizona only to return to the place they called “home” two years later.
Both Oliver and Hazel were active in community affairs and belonged to various organizations, but it was their generosity that stood out the most. Because Oliver wanted a place to gather with the farmers and drink coffee, the Shrivers built and furnished the Deerfield Café for the community and deeded the café to the Deerfield Lions Club in 1981. The building now serves as the Deerfield Recreation Commission’s Fitness Corner.
The Shrivers were also the benefactors of the Deerfield City Shop and provided funds for remodeling Deerfield’s City Hall. They purchased a back hoe for use at the Deerfield Cemetery and provided funding for the water well and irrigation system there too. It was their way of “repaying the community of Deerfield for the hospitality it is has shown us,” Hazel said.
Hazel and Oliver had strong feelings for their church too and made major contributions to the Deerfield Methodist Church’s building fund, carpet, remodeling and furnishings. As a result, the church’s Sunday School wing was named in Hazel’s honor.
Oliver preceded Hazel in death in March of 1984. To honor the couple for being such fine citizens and generous contributors, Saturday, September 29, 1984, was proclaimed “Oliver and Hazel Shriver Day” by Deerfield Mayor James Jarboe, Sr.
Hazel decided to set up scholarships at Garden City Community College in her and Oliver’s names to benefit young people in the area. “In this world, there are so many interesting things to do, to see and to learn. Each of us should continually have a mind open to new ideas and accept the challenge to learn. If these scholarships help the young people to achieve a goal, they will have been very worthwhile,” she said. In all, Hazel established 12 different scholarships at GCCC representing a wide range of interests. The GCCC Endowment Association honored her with the 1985-86 Outstanding Service Award.
Hazel was a staunch supporter of Camp Lakeside near Scott City and the Russell Child Development Center of Garden City too. She also contributed to the Kearny County Hospital, Family Health Center and Kearny County Museum. An active member of the Kearny County Historical Society, she assisted with both History of Kearny County books as well as the supplemental index. Genealogy was one of Hazel’s many interests, and she held memberships in the genealogical societies of Finney County, Dodge City and Topeka. She was recognized for meritorious service/distinguished work in the field of family history in June of 1992 by the Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies.
In 1993, Hazel moved to Garden Valley Retirement Village at Garden City, and she passed away in January of 2000. She and Oliver had no children; however, countless Deerfield children were blessed with their kindness, especially those who were lucky enough to have Hazel “babysit” them or assist with their 4-H projects. Oliver was described as the kind of man who made quick decisions but never looked back. He was mechanically minded and never afraid to try something new. Hazel was spunky, joyful and smart. Not only were they made for each other, they made a lasting impression on those who were fortunate enough to know them.
SOURCES: History of Kearny County, Kansas Vols. I & II; Museum archives; and archives of The Lakin Independent and Garden City Telegram.