Mary Marie O'Dell

Wilson - Mary Marie (Hughes) O' Dell, of Wilson, departed this life on Saturday, March 9, 2019 surrounded by her loving family at her home at the age of 90 years, 3 months, and 18 days. Graveside Services will be 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at the Hewitt Cemetery in Wilson with Jeff Jones officiating. Services are under the direction and care of Alexander-Gray Funeral Home in Wilson.

She was born November 21, 1928 in Rexroat, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Ferman (Jack) Terrell Hughes and Nannie Lou (Allen) Hughes. She graduated from Rexroat High School in 1946. She then worked as a bookkeeper for Hudson-Houston Lumber Co, which at the time owned nine different yards and had many employees. She took great care in her work and was an exceptional employee. While working, she was courted by her childhood sweetheart, Dale Gene O'Dell, through many love letters while he was oversees serving in WWII and Korea. He married his "Darling Sweetheart, as he addressed her in several letters, " on February 5th, 1949 when he returned.

Dale preceded her in death in 1995. She was also preceded in death by one son, Robert Dean (infant), her parents, two brothers, Harold and Leonard, and one sister, Barbara (Bobbie) Shellenberger.

Marie was above all a devoted homemaker, wife, and mother. Her parents came from Alabama during "the worst hard time" of the depression and dust bowl and, somehow, thrived in the oilfields of southern Oklahoma. She always managed to have an open door to welcome, love, and feed any friend or family. She was raised in the Baptist faith and played the piano for Rexroat Baptist church for many years. When she converted to the O'Dell faith of The Church of Christ by way of her father-in-law, she stayed true to it and was a devoted member of the Wilson congregation until her death.

Marie is survived by her children, John O'Dell & wife Marie of Lone Grove; Cynthia Powers & husband Dr. Dave Powers of Ardmore; Jim O'Dell of Falconhead (Burneyville), Samuel O'Dell of the Home, Cathy Shellenberger (her sister's child, but more of a second daughter) and fiancé Jim Nulle of Laramie, Wyoming. Grandchildren, David O'Dell, wife Siji of Silver Springs, Maryland, Kyle O'Dell of Lone Grove, Celia Roberts and husband Jon of League City, Texas, Kylee O'Dell, Shelby O'Dell of Ada, and Luke O'Dell of Falconhead, Jennevieve O'Dell, of the home. Great Grandchildren, Jake Roberts of League City, Texas, Step- Greats, Emily and Ashley Roberts, and Pearl O'Dell of Silver Springs, Maryland. Sister-in-Law, Juanita (White) Hughes of Ardmore. Great-Nephews, Ryan Langford, wife Jessica, Michael Langford and wife Megan, Courtney Bobsein and husband Ryan, and Cassidy Villano and husband Ryan. Special niece, Carol Shepard of Hunstville, Texas.

In later years, Marie used her talents in many ways. She was a volunteer at the local nursing home doing hair and nails. She taught Sunday school for many years, spent endless hours taking care of her grandchildren, and did expertise wax injection work for her son's (Jim and Sam) jewelry-making business. She was talented in hand work also, making many quilts, knitting afghans, crocheting, and embroidery. Her cooking will be missed by everyone who knew her, because she could get the" pinch" just right when it came to her list of ingredients. Most of all, we will miss her unconditional love. She led her children and grandchildren through many difficult times in their lives and her faith kept them strong. She was the "good and faithful servant," and she looked forward to heaven and was brave and smiling to the end. She ran the "good race." She did many small things in her life with great love.