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Oma Bird:
"Helen Frye was a good friend of mine!" |
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| A Polar Bear stands guard over Sedona's past |
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| Sedona Legend Profile Series |
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Oma Bird is a legend in Sedona. She owned the famous Oak Creek Tavern, along with the adjoining service station, Oak Creek Market, and motel. This was not just a place to acquire spirits. It was "the" meeting place in Sedona for over 50 years, and still exists today in Uptown Sedona. Weary travelers could order hearty food and something to wet their whistle. This is the famous haunt where the Cowboy Artists of America was born in 1965. With a crackling juniper fire reflecting off the warm walls, Oma would serve movie companies, celebrities, tourists and native Sedonans, treating each and everyone of them like family!
The first thing Oma said when I found my way up to her Sedona home was: "do you want to see the Polar Bear? Everyone wants to see it, you can, you know. It is right out there in the garage!" Oh yes, I knew of the bear. Who hadn't? I was surprised and touched that it still kept Oma company. This Polar Bear was a Sedona Legend, the mascot of Oma's Oak Creek Tavern. Lording over the patrons, it harkened back to an association with Alaska and the mystery of the great north. The famous Polar Bear was now retired to a quiet life of grace in a dusty garage. Mostly forgotten by those thousands of Oma's patrons, locals and tourists alike whom had once found their way to the comfort of Oma's watering hole in Sedona Arizona. Not unlike Oma herself, forgotten and frail, well into her 90's, bedridden but not down. No, not down by any means! |
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I found Oma at the end of her life, a remarkably astute woman, with a twinkle in her eye. I instantly liked her very much, as so many had before me! Helen Frye was her friend, she softly uttered with a tear in her eye, as she squeezed my hand. Oma related how she knew Helen and what the friendship meant to her. The pain was evident in her heart when she told of Helen's struggle with cancer. Helen had called her a long ago day, and said "Oma, can I leave my car in town at your house?" "Well of course, you don't even need to ask," was Oma's reply. Helen drove up to Oma's house, but sadness surrounded her. She related her agony trying to shed off the dreaded disease. Helen was undertaking a journey up north to the Hopis who wanted to heal her. "It was not successful," said Oma. "Helen died not long after."
All through the years Helen and Oma shared a friendship. Oma and her husband started operating the Oak Creek Tavern in 1945. Oma knew both Jack and Helen Frye from that time period. Helen would often come into the saloon to visit her friend and lean on Oma for advice and solace. Many in Sedona did the same. "But Helen," Oma says, "was different. A real beauty she was, with a heart so big and generous, many took advantage of that." Of course these were the years before and after Jack and Helen were divorced. "A tragedy," related Oma when asked about the seperation, "they were so much in love. It broke Helen's heart. But Jack was always so busy, you know, with his work, and often out of town." Oma continued, "Jack was only interested in one thing: making money." Obviously the sentiments of a woman who felt her friend had been betrayed. She continued, "Back when Helen and Jack were still married, he came into the station for gas with his partner, Howard Hughes. They were both in high spirits and we had a nice visit, so much so that they completely forgot to pay me! I didn't even realize it until Jack Frye drove back in, and said, Oma, wouldn't you like to be paid for your gas? We both had a good laugh over that one!" |
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One of the most refreshing stories Oma told me was that of Sedona Schnebly. I was aware that Sedona had left the community for a time after the death of her child, but returned later in life. This was the period Oma was referring to: "I was working in the bar one day, when she came into the tavern, "are you Oma Bird?" Sedona demanded. "Yes I am," said Oma." Sedona continued, "I understand that you are a teacher at our Sedona school, yet I have heard you also run this bar? I don't know what to think about that." Oma asked Sedona to please sit down and visit. Oma then conveyed to Sedona that she and her husband were just trying to make an honest living the best they could. "I love children and enjoy teaching them, but I have to help run this restaurant and bar too." "Times were hard in Sedona back then and a person really had to work hard," related Oma. The two came to an understanding, and finally Sedona got up to go, "I like you Oma Bird, I'm glad you are teaching our children!" That day Oma passed muster. Her judge: the founder of Sedona herself, Sedona Schnebly, and in the process a new friendship was forged!
Toward the end of Helen's life she lost her voluptuous figure, like so many women her age. Oma related how Helen had checked into a weight loss spa. When she returned to Sedona, she came by the Oak Creek Tavern to see Oma. "Her figure had returned and she looked radiant," said Oma. Helen twirled around in front of Oma and the ever observing Polar Bear. "Well what do you think? Am I beautiful again? Was it worth it?" Helen beamed. "You look wonderful," Oma said, "your old self again!" |
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"What about the end of Helen's life?" I querried. A shadow came over Oma's face, "a real mess," she said. Then her voice became quiet, I had to lean closer to hear, "Helen was taken in, you know....by that group, I saw it all. Helen would come in and confide in me. A lot of strange things were going on out at that ranch of her's."
Toward the end of our interview, Oma told me she never even thought to get a photo of her dear friend, and when Helen died it was too late. I had brought several of Helen and Jack for her to retain. When I offered them to her, she was visibly touched. As she gazed at Helen's picture, I noticed her aged eyes became misty. "Helen was a friend, she whispered, one of my very best." She clutched the photograph to her heart, and shut her eyes. I knew at that moment the interview was over, and Oma wanted to be alone. I left sadly, as I knew Oma's life now was only brightened by those that would call on her. The glamour days of Sedona were over for her. Those that helped build this community, like Jack and Helen Frye, were gone as well. Soon Oma too, would join her friends that had shared this glorious community we call Sedona! |
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| This is a picture of Oma's Oak Creek Tavern as it appeared when Jack Frye and Howard Hughes pulled in for gas. One of the only places to socialize in Sedona for many years, Helen Frye would often stop by to meet her contemporaries here, and visit her good friend Oma Bird. "Jack," Oma said, "didn't mix much with the locals, when he was in town he was usually tied up at the ranch entertaining business associates." |
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| This page is respectfully dedicated to Oma Bird, who passed away January 17, 2004 |
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Copyright 2003-2008
All Rights Reserved |
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| All material on this webpage, unless otherwise notated, is copyrighted and original protected property of the Sedona Legend Helen Frye Website. |
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Sedona Legend Helen Frye |
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