Joseph Frazier has held several titles throughout his life.

He has been a teacher and a coach, a Sunday School teacher, husband and father. It was through his role as husband that he added the title of author.

In an effort to work through the emotions of losing his wife Maxine, Frazier wrote a book inspired by her called Selflessness.

“I wrote the first edition, and this is the second edition,” he said. “It is dedicated to her. It deals with selflessness. It is 100% scriptural, I promise you. I didn’t twist the verses.”

It has been over seven years since Frazier lost his wife. He said writing the book got him through the first two years after nearly 50 years of marriage.

“In my opinion, and I am probably biased, but she was the greatest person I have ever known,” he said. “She really was, she was so selfless.”

Frazier is originally from the Hollis area. He was raised by family members after his mother abandoned him.

“I was raised by an aunt and uncle,” Frazier said. “He is of that generation, went through the Great Depression and World War II. Men are tough, men don’t cry. And so, that is the way he was.”

Frazier grew up milking cows, which taught him that he wanted more in life. To do so, he had to pay his own way, a challenge that he accepted.

“I was raised in a two-room shack,” he said. “I am the epitome of the old American story. I didn’t get wealthy. In fact, living on a teacher’s retirement right now is tough. But I did pull myself out of that situation. And those Holstein cows made me be that way.”

It was while going to high school that Frazier had the chance to meet his father for the first time. He recalled one day, his uncle approached him and asked if he would like to meet his father. Frazier said his dad had served in World War II and struggled with alcohol after what he had experienced.

“The things they went through, honestly nobody could blame them,” he said. “He was on the aircraft carrier Lexington when the Japanese sank it in the Battle of Coral Sea. He got rescued.”

His father also survived kamikaze attacks in the Philippines. Frazier said his father would help him get a job where he was able to make money.

When it came to school, Frazier chose Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he originally enrolled in the pharmacy program, but was not sold on the confinement that comes with the profession. He opted for a career in education, taking a chewing out from the pharmacy school dean in the process.

It was also in Weatherford where Frazier met Francine at church. Prior to going to college, he said he had not been religious.

“I didn’t know anything religious at all,” he said. “My uncle was very strict. I knew right from wrong, but I didn’t know anything. I went with my best friend to a denominational church that he had gone to all his life. He got kicked out. We got kicked out because he was inviting too many people that were not denominational.

“I learned right then I don’t want anyone religion that is controlled strictly by man. I want to go somewhere I can just study the Bible only. And I found the Church of Christ does it. They try to follow it as best they can. And that is all I want.”

Frazier said after graduation, he took jobs at Gotebo, Elk City and Perkins. It was at Perkins that he and Maxine met Kathleen Woods and her husband. Kathleen and Maxine would become best friends. His career also took him to York College and Amber-Pocasset and eventually settled at Clarendon Community College in Texas, where he taught chemistry.

Frazier said while he taught chemistry, he always had a passion for history, earning a master’s and doctorate in that field. While teaching at Clarendon, Maxine got sick with a rare cancer. Her teacher’s retirement insurance was not accepted in Texas, leading the couple to move to Ardmore.

The loss of Maxine left Frazier heartbroken. He said he went through some counseling for his grief but the thing that helped him most was throwing himself into the book.

“I have had a good life,” he said. “But the reason I am doing this is because, I want people to grasp the significance of selflessness in this life. I didn’t and that is one of my regrets with my wife. Because I did everything myself. I had a feeling of self-sufficiency.”

As an example of his wife’s selflessness, Frazier said as Maxine fought against cancer, she had asked her best friend Kathleen to take care of him. Kathleen had lost her husband. Several months ago, they married each other.

In looking at his book, Frazier said he wanted to stress the importance of selflessness in leading the life of a Christian.

“Because the idea of selflessness is imperative if you are going to try to live the Christian life,” he said. “I believe this, you cannot be a self-consumed person and be a Christian.”

In addition to Nonna’s Bookseller, Frazier’s book can also be purchased through the publisher at Westbow Press at www.westbowpress.com or calling 844-714-3454.