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Ray Howard O’Dell age 95 of Mattoon passed away peacefully in his home at 9:50pm, Friday
October 4, 2024 surrounded by family including his daughter and son in law Cathy & Rodney
Birch, grandchildren Katie & Benjamin Fisher, Dustin, Sabrina & Jaxon Birch, Tyler Evans,
Kaitlyn & Aurora Webb and long time partner Wilma Hancock.
Ray was born May 14, 1929 in Rose Hill Illinois. He was the son of Ray Cyrus & Alma Sara
Jane O’Dell. He married Margaret May Dailey September 17, 1947, she preceded him in death
June 24, 2004. They had 5 children.
Survivors include 2 son’s Wayne (Brenda) O’Dell of Cooks Mills, Rocky O’Dell of Oakland and
one daughter, Cathy (Rodney) Birch of Lerna, 11 Grandchildren (including spouses), 27 great
Grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren.
Ray loved to play his music & go fishing with his grandkids. He planted a garden every year and
loved to tell stories about life with his granddaughter at his farm and working the produce stand
he started with his wife and granddaughter Katie in Mattoon and eventually became a family
operated business that people looked forward to every year.
Ray was a retired teamster and a retired farmer, in his younger days he owned and operated a
termite business and had O’Dell’s Grocery & bait shop at Lake Paradise which he ran with his
wife Margaret.
Ray was preceded in death by his loving wife Margaret of 56 years, one son Thomas Ray, an
infant Daughter Sally May, his parents, 3 brothers, 3 infant brothers, 1 infant sister, and a
grandson.
A memorial service will be held at the family home 1116 Shelby, Mattoon on Sunday October
20th from 3-5 pm. The Krabel Funeral Home in Oakland is in charge of arrangements.
To plant a tree in memory of Ray Howard O'Dell, visit the Tribute Store.
Krabel Funeral Home & Cremation Service
215 E. Main St., Oakland, IL 61943 • Phone: (217) 346-2121
602 E. Madison Ave., Chrisman, IL 61924 • Phone: (217) 269-2392
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