Sam O'Dell

Samuel Hoyt “Sam” O’Dell of Norman, OK passed peacefully from this life and into the arms of his Savior on September 28, 2010.  Sam was born November 16, 1925 to Robert Lee and Gladys (Stewart) O’Dell in Carr City, Oklahoma (near Maud).  His mother contracted leukemia shortly thereafter and died when Sam was three.   He was raised by his maternal grandmother, Sylvester (Parker) Stewart and his uncle and aunt Hoyt and Gillie Stewart in Paragould, Arkansas until age 11 when he joined his father and step-mother in Pampa, Texas. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Maud, Oklahoma where Sam’s father started Sam working after school in the oil fields dressing tools for Cities Service Oil Company.  Sam played football, baseball and basketball for Maud High School acting as forward for their undefeated state championship basketball team his senior year.   After graduating from Maud High School in 1942, he signed up with the United States Navy.  He was stationed on Tinian Island where he was attached to the Seabee (Construction Battalion) unit #597. Sam ran the refrigeration units for the island and quickly learned he could barter for anything with homemade ice cream. Sam returned home to Maud where he discovered that his best friend’s little sister had grown up.  Jean Hale was making popcorn and taking tickets at the Maud movie theatre when he spotted her.   They married on September 6, 1947.  Over the next 42 years, they raised their four children together until Jean’s sudden death in 1989.   Sam worked for Cities Service Oil Company for 34 years retiring at the age of 55.  Always active and serving in his local church as a Sunday School Teacher and Deacon, he became a bi-vocational pastor in 1971.  He served as the pastor of First Baptist Church of Springer, Oklahoma and the Franklin Baptist Church of Norman. Sam was preceded in death by his wife, Jean on November 4, 1989, and his oldest brother, R.L. O’Dell. He is survived by his children; Patti and Bill Taylor of Norman, Oklahoma, Sammy and Kelly O’Dell of Joy, Texas, Susie and Rick Skaggs of Norman, Oklahoma and Jim and Debbie O’Dell of Norman, Oklahoma; one brother C.C. O’Dell of San Antonio, Texas; one sister-in-law and her daughter, Avis and Jean Meredith of Wewoka, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren, Chrystal, Keith, Kim, Keith, Duncan, Tim, Emalyn and Nate; four great-grandchildren and a host of other beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends. A celebration of Sam’s life will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 1, 2010 at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Seminole, Oklahoma with military honors.  Interment will follow at the Cummings Cemetery in Maud, Oklahoma.  Arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home, 1001 N. Milt Phillips Ave. in Seminole, Oklahoma. The family would like to thank Dr. Gary Ratliff and his staff:  the staff of Sterling House of Norman and the staff of Rambling Oaks Courtyard Alzheimer’s unit on South Western, Good Shepherd Hospice and Angela Mullins for their care of our father. Memorial donations can be made in memory of Sam O’Dell to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at www.alzfdn.org Funeral Information: October 1, 2010, 2:00 PM Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel located at 1001 N. Milt Phillips Ave., Seminole, OK 74868