Mary Odell Tarpley

Mary Iris Odell Geraldine Tucker Tarpley, 99 years of age from Kaufman, Texas went to be with The Lord on June 21, 2024. Odell was described as a caregiver - always putting others first and was known for being the family advocate for advice, support, and for scripture.

Odell had many respectful achievements and accomplishments in her wonderful life. She was an educator and began her journey attending East Texas Teacher’s College in Commerce as an Art Major and left with a Master’s Degree in Education in 1972. She was a teacher and had multiple teaching jobs including Gregton, Lone Star and then even starting her own day care. Odell then took a break from teaching and went to work at a sewing factory. Eventually, she went back to teaching at Westminister, then Fannindel ISD/ Pecan Gap, and finally finishing her teaching career at Kaufman ISD.

Odell was married to W.T. Tarpley on November 22, 1951. She and W.T. had two wonderful daughters - Ramona in 1955 and LaMarna in 1957 and began making unforgettable memories. Some of the fondest family memories were going on family vacations to the beach or to Colorado for the snow. Odell also enjoyed taking all four grand kids to caves and caverns and seeing all of the U.S. monuments and traveling worldwide every summer. There were other countless, cherished traveling memories shared with Odell and her family.

Odell loved creating family time and had many hobbies surrounding getting her family/grand kids together. Odell’s hobbies were oil painting and baking. She loved making wedding cakes and birthday cakes for grand kids. She was known for cooking her “Favorite Family Dishes,” such as Smothered Fried Squirrel, Dove & Quail, Hopkins County Stew and the desserts like chocolate & coconut pies. Odell also loved having tea parties, or hot chocolate parties, with the Great Grand kids.

Odell had a large family and was preceded in death by her parents Harley Wright and Eva Lee Tucker; her husband W.T. Tarpley; her brothers Warren Tucker, Thomas Tucker, Cullen Tucker, and James Tucker; her sister Hazel McGregor; and brothers H.W. Tucker and Glendale Tucker; and sisters Fern Hill and Ann Earwood.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter Ramona Fisk and husband Jr. of Tioga; her daughter LaMarna and partner Bobby Brewer of Kaufman; her four grandchildren Lance West and wife Casy of Larue; her grandson David Fisk and wife Amy of Wolfe City; her granddaughter Renee Yates and husband Zach of Kaufman; her grandson Kevin Fisk of Greenville; her 14 great grandchildren – Kirsten Nance, Brandon Fisk and wife Presley, Adrian Nance, Tyler Shaw and wife Doralie, Gunnar Millsap and girlfriend Isabella, Eric Fisk, Taylor Shaw, Jalei Fisk, Zoe Fullwood, Gus West, Connor Moore, Zane Yates, Carson Moore, and Case Halstead; Sister-n-Law Marcille Tucker and Numerous Nieces and nephews; as well as Odell’s Great-Great Grandchildren Owen Shaw, Baker Fisk, Willow Shaw and Colter Millsap.

She will be missed by all of her family and friends.