Joan Odell

March 16, 1928 - Dec. 30, 2011

Joan Odell's journey ended on this earthly plain Dec. 30, 2011. It began on March 16, 1928 in Warren, Ohio, where she had the good fortune to be born to a

junior high school math teacher and principal, Donald McCorkle, and his wife Dorothy, who served as organist for the Christian church. Welcoming her into the world as well were siblings, Eleanor (Thorp), then three, and Gertrude (Seidel), then six.

Sadly, the kind father and husband who was loved by his community and family finished what his God had sent him to do 17 months after Joan's birth.

Joan, a child who was always smiling, became a tremendous source of comfort to her mother. The new home was sold and Joan's mom went to work as a court stenographer supporting her three girls and a live-in housekeeper who cared for the children during the Great Depression. If the older children wanted a nickel for the movies during these difficult days, Joan was always encouraged to do the asking, because her sisters knew it was hard for their mother to say no to Joan, something she did not realize until she was an adult.

At the age of 12, Joan confessed Christ and was baptized in the Second Christian Church. A highlight of her schooldays was being a baton twirler/ majorette with the band on the football field. She was a high stepper.

At 17, Joan married Robert Grant. During this 14 year union a daughter was born, Jennifer Grant. The family moved to Vallejo, Calif., in 1952, then Benicia several years later. In 1960 Joan, now divorced, moved back to Vallejo and began a 10-year career working for Dr. Donald K. Miller, who trained her as a dental assistant. It was at this time she married the love of her life, Jerry (Al) Odell, who had been her daughter's accordion teacher.

Jerry brought her the gift of laughter once showing up at the dental office with a monkey he purchased from a local pet store. Joan was to share 39 good years of marriage with Jerry, who swore he never won a battle, but who was a kind, compassionate, adoring husband and loving stepfather to her daughter "Jenny."

Jerry had four beautiful children from his first marriage who lived with their mother that he brought into the relationship as well; Nannette (Roberts), Mike Odell, Nick Odell, and Midgie (Williams), all who she leaves behind.

Joan and Jerry, both avid golfers, eventually retired and opened Joanie's Tee Room, a hamburger/ chili and beer shack at the Vallejo fairgrounds golf course that became a tremendous source of pleasure for the couple. Here many friends were made. In 1985, they moved on to Vacaville, retired and golfed often. Several cruises were taken as well.

In her later years, Joan and her husband were members and generous supporters of Orchard Avenue Baptist Church.

She loved homemaking, caring for her beautiful flowers, singing, bowling, her church community and her pets. She always looked her best. She never drove over the speed limit, and took pride in the fact she raised a daughter who was a tax payer. She dotted the i's and crossed the t's. É

In 2003, Joan's husband Jerry was called home before her, as had her family of origin and many friends. In her lonely hours, having sustained another loss of a dear companion some years later, Joan would often talk about God and his love to her little dog, Trinket, a pet she rescued from the pound. She read her Bible and prayed, fighting the fight for faith as the Word states we do as mortals.

A tremendous blessing to Joan during her last six months was becoming a member of the Emeritus, at Vacaville Community, where she and Trinket made new friends and Joan stated for the first time in many years that she was truly happy. God had answered her prayers.

Joan loved smiling people, and at Emeritus, her caregivers were smiling people who reminded her she was loved, and she quickly responded in kind. Once more she laughed É and even sang among friends shortly before Christmas.

Loving memories are sent, I'm sure, from another shore to Sheena, Kari, Allen and Margaret who went the extra miles in blessing Joan with love while at Emeritus. To Claudia from the laundry room who gave her precious little dog Trinket a loving home and brought him to her bedside to say good-bye, know you have received her sweetest gift. Joan truly believed God had sent her this special little dog who had filled a void of loss and seemed to understand so much.

And to my mom, Joan Odell, who came as a teacher to me. I would say that I trust you are surrounded in love and beauty beyond measure É that the flowers are glorious colors, and the fragrance sweeter than anything you knew here É and mostly that it all makes sense now É even the difficult parts É the whys and wherefores of your journey here É and that you are immersed in spiritual wholeness É full of vigor É radiant É with those you love, especially Jerry, and that you have looked into the face of the kind daddy you wish you would have known. I trust that now you know life is simply about loving one another, and that you know also what was important and what really wasn't after all and that most of it wasn't ... my love and gratitude to you.

As per her wishes, there will be no services. However, if you take time to appreciate the beauty of a flower or lovingly pet an animal and knew Joan, you might feel Joan somehow with you. A random act of kindness would be a good thing to do in her memory; it can make all the difference in the world.