UTICA – To walk into Oiler Meat Processing is to leave the chill of a frosty January morning behind and be warmed by the heat in the building and a friendly voice.
The voice is that of Linda Oiler standing behind the counter, asking a longtime customer about his grandchildren. Her voice can be heard above the whirring and chopping sounds filtering in from the busy back of the shop.
Soon, the sounds will different. Oiler, who is set to retire on Feb. 1, has spent a lifetime giving to her family and her community. For the last 47 years, as owner of Oiler Meat Processing, her simple creed of serving the customer and word-of-mouth advertising has made Oiler’s a popular place for shoppers, deer hunters, taxidermists, wildlife officers and people just dropping by for a friendly chat.
Oiler, born in Meigs County and now in her 80s, built Oiler’s with her longtime husband, Carmel, who passed away 11 years ago. They were the perfect blend of talents.
“He was totally different from me,” she said. “He stayed in the back and he worked. I managed a store before we bought this place. I talked to the customers. I knew how to handle people.”
Jim Swartz of Frazeysburg, owner of Hothead’s Taxidermy, grew up in Knox County.
“I’d just sometimes come up here to talk to Linda and Carmel,” Swartz said. “They’ve been good people. You couldn’t ask for anyone better. I hate to see (her) go, but sooner or later, it’s time to retire.”
Oiler has supported Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, among other charities. She made sure her children and grandchildren went to Catholic school.
Longtime meat processor Travis Payne, whose family will purchase the business on Feb. 1, will keep the Oiler’s name. Oiler is passing on her family recipes for deer sausage, jerky and bologna to the new owner. As they work in the back of the store, Oiler makes lunch for them. She has always fed her workers a homemade lunch. She is teaching them the Oiler way of customer service.
“We’ll take care of every single customer,” Payne said. “If they feel that something’s not right, make it right. That’s what (Oiler) does. She talks to every single customer and makes sure they leave happy.”
Oiler’s turn has finally come to give to herself.
“Everything will be the same,” she said. “I just won’t be here. I’ll be at home enjoying my garden.”
