Rites held for Odessa Martin
Odessa Mae Martin passed away at her home in Calvin, Oklahoma on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at the age of 79 years.
Odessa is the daughter of Carl J. Vandeveer and Jewel (Hampton) Vandeveer, born on November 17, 1944, in Holdenville, Oklahoma. She was brought up traveling with her family, following her father’s Civil Service career to various locations all across the State of Oklahoma, until they settled in Calvin in the early 1960s.
She was married in Calvin to Jerry W. Martin on February 4, 1966, and they made the Calvin area their lifelong home.
Odessa was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother who spent her lifetime caring for her home, loving her family and making certain they were happy. She was a master campaigner for Jerry’s run for Hughes County Commissioner, where he served for many years. She loved family get-togethers, held most often at the lake because she loved camping, skiing, and fishing. She was a great cook, and most enjoyed anything she could fry. She enjoyed gardening, especially taking care of flower beds. She loved music and just about any style of dancing, and she loved playing games, her favorite being Yahtzee. She loved showing affection for her family, and she was the best back scratcher ever. She was very much loved and she will be deeply missed.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Jewel Vandeveer; her brother, Kenneth Vandeveer; and her great-grandson, Beckham Smith.
She is survived by her husband of fiftyeight years, Jerry Martin, of the home; two daughters, Tisha Tatum (Bryan) of Shawnee, and Kim Martin (Jason Smith) of Calvin; five grandchildren: Kylee Mendenhall (Kaleb) of Harrah, Kenzi Williams (Jake) of Pryor, Kelley Smith, Pazli Smith, and Alissa White, all of Calvin; three greatgrandchildren: Beau, Brynlee, and Bentley; one sister, Patricia Collard (Carl) of Calvin, and sister-in-law Joan Vandeveer of Calvin; nieces and nephews, other family members, and many friends.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, 1:00pm at First Baptist Church in Calvin, and Odessa was laid to rest at Calvin Cemetery, with Rev. Kurtis Stoll officiating. Pallbearers were Bryan Tatum, Jake Williams, Kaleb Mendenhall, Gail Wilbanks, Danny McPhetridge, and Kevin Luker. Honorary pallbearers were Ben Mathis, David Tharp, Carl Collard, Penn McPhetridge, Leroy Dunn, David Mills, Fred Pace, and Derek Pace.