THOMAS ODELL BELL SR.

Thomas Odell Bell Sr. was born June 14, 1937 at Dyer, Tennessee.

He died August 11, 2017 at Hayti, Missouri.

Odell worked as a truck driver for most of his life driving for John Deere in Hayti for many years and later went to work for his brother moving trucks for Shamrock Ford. He was co-owner of Ma’s Kitchen with his wife Linda (Ma Bell) until she became unable to work and they sold the business. He enjoyed Crappie fishing and loved to eat them after a good fishing trip. He also loved spending time with all of his grandkids.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Linda Bell, parents Earl Bell and Renner Burns, one son, Dusty Lynn, one grandson, Little Rickey Bell, one brother, Billy Bell, two sisters, Dorothy Grissom and Rosalee Tull, and two son-in-laws, Dennis Green and Michael VanDyke.

Odell is survived by his 8 children, Glenda (Jackie) Overbey of Hayti, Shirley (Robert) Edwards of Greenville, MO, Rickey (Janice) Bell of Caruthersville, Patricia VanDyke of Hayti, William Bell of Hayti, Teresa (Eugene) Davis of Portageville, Lisa Green of Hayti, and Thomas (Karla) Bell of Hayti, 14 grandkids, Leeann Inman, Jackie Overbey, Jr., Natural Addison, Jeremy Cheramie, Donald Jones, Nikki Brown, Michael and David VanDyke, Anthony, Christopher and Matthew Davis, Brittney Martin, Trey Bell, and Ali Laws, 17 great-grandkids, Grace and Jackson Lannie, Garren and Sadie Overbey, Trenton and Trevor Cheramie, Kranston Jones, Gatsby and Sutton Brown, Caleb Lewis, Preston, Emma, Libby Jane and Michael VanDyke, Bell and Maggie Davis, and Jaidyn Martin, three brothers, Ray Bell of Niles, MI, Leon Bell of Hot Springs, AR, Jerry Bell of Osceola, IN, one sister, Emma Sue Martin of St. Peters, MO, and a host of other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were held August 14, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the Calvary Baptist Church in Hayti with Bro. Doug Wahls officiating. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery in Hayti.

Pallbearers were his grandsons, Jackie Overbey, Jr., Donald Jones, Michael and David VanDyke, Anthony, Christopher, and Matthew Davis.

John W. German Funeral Home of Hayti in charge of services.