Olen Harper

Olen Frederick Harper, 71, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away suddenly October 28, 2009.
He and Mary Carolyn Harper, his wife of 24 years, had just recently moved from Knoxville, Tennessee to Little Rock, Arkansas.
He was born in Ft. Smith, Arkansas on May 25, 1938 to Olen Harper and W. Patsie Harper. Paternal grandparents were Albert and Grace Harper and maternal grandparents were Bill Spradley and Isabel France.
Dr. Frederick grew up in a farming family in Arkansas and received his B. S. degree from Iowa State in 1960 and his M.S. from Oklahoma State University. In 1959 he married Brenda Oliphant and they had two children, LuEllyn and Wesley. In 1963, he went to Rutgers University in the first Extension position devoted solely to horses. While at Rutgers, he completed his P.H.D. in equine nutrition. After serving as Extension Horse Specialist at Rutgers for 14 years, he moved to the University of Tennessee, to become their first Extension Horse Specialist in 1978. In addition to his extension activities, Dr. Harper helped expand the undergraduate equine program at the University of Tennessee.
During his four plus decades in academia, Dr. Harper was a prolific writer. He is the author of the popular "Top Form Book of Horse Care", and he was the research editor for Feeding to Win II. He prepared more than 1,700 articles that have appeared in 290 regional, national, and international publications. He received the Fellow Award by the Equine Science Society, recognizing distinguished service to the horse industry.
Following his father's death in 1998, he took over running the Harper Family Farm in central Arkansas.
Frederick enjoyed the beauty of creation, traveling, woodworking, spending time with his family and planned to continue writing about horses even in retirement. Of primary significance to Frederick was his Christian Faith. In the various places he lived, he was always an active member of the Church.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Carolyn Harper of Little Rock, his daughter LuEllyn Harper of Los Angeles, California and her daughter, Alaire and his son, Wesley Harper and Estee of Medway, Massachusetts and their children Leland and Eli.
He is also survived by Meredith Miller Bentley and John of Scottsdale, Arizona and their children, William, Mary Margaret and Miller; Andy Miller and Susan of Little Rock and their daughter, Drew; Alan and Elizabeth Miller of Little Rock and their children, Matthew, Spencer and Morgan; and Charles Miller and Kelli, also of Little Rock and their daughters, Cameryn and Meredith.
He was the best father, grandfather and friend anyone could ask for. He will be missed.
Services will be held at Fellowship Bible Church, 1401 Kirk Rd., Little Rock on Tuesday, November 3 at 11:00 a.m., preceded by interment at 9:30 a.m. at Rest Hills Memorial Park in Sherwood. Visitation will be Monday, November 2 from 4-7 p.m. at Andy and Susan Miller's home, 5720 Grandview, Little Rock.
Memorials may be made to Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church Benevolent Fund, 9132 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923 or to Fellowship Bible Church Benevolent Fund, 1401 Kirk Road, Little Rock, AR 72223.
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW Corner of I-630 and Barrow Rd), Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, (501)224-2200. Mr. Harper's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com