David Maurice O’Dell
Sunrise April 2, 1926, Sunset November 18, 2017
The coolness of spring claims his birth. The depression years witnessed the entry of
David Maurice O’Dell to this universe on April 2, 1926 in Orrick, Mo. to the parentage Clarence O’Dell and Reca Summers O’Dell.
As a child, Maurice faced many adversities. With every challenge and every difficulty, he conquered them with will-power, confidence and strength. Maurice also responded positively and constructively to those challenges with courage, character and perseverance.
Maurice broke his leg at age ten and spent time in the hospital. His father paid bus fare to visit Maurice by giving the bus driver a chicken. Nine months later, after the harvesting of the sorghum, Maurice and his cousin Doug were playing on the sorghum cane pile and Maurice re-broke his leg. Rather than put his parents through hardships of hospitals and doctor bills, he picked up his crutches and began walking with them, resulting in a crooked leg for most of his adult life.
His incorrigible thirst for learning led him to attend Red Brush, a small one room school house in Orrick, Mo. He graduated from Orrick High School with wisdom and knowledge that would later lead him to achieve greatness in the business world and become an entrepreneur of many endeavors.
Being a man of spiritual substance, Deacon Maurice served the Lord of his life, most extensively at the Christian Church of Buckner, in Buckner, Mo. He led by example, by ensuring that his family attended and were active in the church and the communities they served.
From the beginning of his working career as a grocery store clerk, Maurice delivered groceries to local schools for a small town grocery store. A short time later, he acquired a job at a machine shop, was Fire Chief for the Buckner Volunteer Fire Department and owner of his grocery store “O’Dell’s Fine Foods.” Maurice had the pleasure of retiring early from his industrious working career life. After retirement, Maurice and his wife Betty enjoyed life with family and friends at morning and afternoon gatherings at their favorite nearby McDonald’s. They also enjoyed golfing, bowling and playing cards.
Grandpa Maurice, (as he was called by his beloved grandchildren) loved his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Grandpa Maurice loved the fun gatherings of his family for picnics, holidays, birthdays, reunions and all of the special gatherings.
Maurice was preceded in death by his parents Clarence O’Dell and Reca Summers O’Dell, his beloved wife of 49 years, Betty Todd Langhammer O’Dell, son Tony Joe O’Dell, stepdaughter Cindy Langhammer Houston and stepson Kevin Langhammer.
Celebrants of his legacy are his children, Diane O’Dell Barker (Bill), David O’Dell Sr. (Ethel), Connie O’Dell Dueker (Eric) and stepdaughter Beverly Langhammer Kinker (Curtis), two sisters Vivian O’Dell Christensen (Paul) deceased, Grace O’Dell Palmer (Jack), grandchildren, great—grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
Visitation will be from 12-1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 with service following at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home in Excelsior Springs, Mo. Burial following at O’Dell Cemetery in Orrick, Mo.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the O’Dell Cemetery, c/o Grace Palmer, 1106 Frontier St. Excelsior Springs, MO. 64024.