Ollie was born in Bentonia, MS to Fannie Owens Mack. His mother later married Walter Mack who adopted Ollie as his son. He had an older sister, Ruth Buck and brother, Eddie Whitfield. All have preceded him in death.
At the age of 6 the family moved to Kinloch, MO where Ollie attended school and graduated from Kinloch High School in 1946. He attended the University of Iowa and transferred to the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff (UAPB). He graduated with a BS degree in Physical Education. In addition to his BS Degree he also obtained a Master’ Degree in Education Administration as well as 30 hours toward his doctorate Degree. He emphasized and loved education. He expected nothing less than excellence from himself and others. He made sure all of his children went to college and obtained a minimum of an undergraduate degree. He donated money to UAPB, his alma mater, to make sure other children would be able to get a college education. He also encouraged several students to go to UAPB. Ollie participated in the Memory and Aging Project (MAP) at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, MAP is a long-term study of intellectual functioning in persons as they age.
On December 30, 1948 he was united in marriage to Helen Marie Lyes. Four children were born to this union: Ollie, Jr., Cynthia, Kathia, and Coledia Marie. Ollie loved his family. He would take his children on family vacations regularly. He made sure they saw several states and countries. He also took his grandchildren on several family trips. He was the president of the St. Louis Owens Family Reunion for many years. He wanted his children to know they had family members all over the country.
Ollie received Christ in his life at an early age. He attended several churches. His last church home was Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church. He served many terms as a Trustee, a member of the Adventures Club, and he was active in several other organizations.
Ollie was a hard worker. He was an educator and administrator in several school districts. After he retired from the educational field, he became a successful Insurance Agent. He was a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and was a member of the Masonic Order of Masons. He was an active member of the YMCA and was on the Board of Directors of the Monsanto YMCA before his health failed.
Ollie loved traveling, fishing, all sports, good jokes, and talking to people. He never met a stranger he would not talk to. He would introduce himself by saying “My name is Ollie Mack. I am from Kinloch, Missouri”.
He departed this life on May 12, 2013 and leaves behind a legacy that includes: his wife of 64 years, Helen Marie; his son, Ollie Jr. (Debra); three daughters, Cynthia Jones, Kathia Betts (John) and Coledia Poole (Kenneth Sr.); 9 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren; 3 sisters-in-law, 1 brother-in-law, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.