Vickie Lee (Harper) O’Dell, 64, of Evanston, passed away Aug. 24.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Sept. 8, at the 8th Ward South Stake.
Vickie was born Vickie Lee Harper to Oliver “Howard” and Margaret Avon Harper in Tucson, Arizona, on Feb. 10, 1953. Because her father served in the Army Air Corp., the family moved around before settling in the Los Angeles area.
Vickie graduated in 1970 from William S. Hart High School in Santa Clarita, California, before attending college at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah. There she studied theater and cosmetology. After college, Vickie lived in Hollywood, where she worked as a carpool matcher. In 1977, she joined the Army National Guard and was rapidly promoted to Specialist 4, First Class.
Vickie married Tim O’Dell in 1982. They were blessed with two sons, Jarred in 1983, and Derrek in 1986.
In 1999, Vickie became a licensed real estate agent. She moved to Watertown, New York, and practiced real estate until her return to California in 2008, where she lived in the town of Grass Valley in the Sierra foothills.
She retired to Evanston in 2015, falling in love with the small town atmosphere and greatly enjoying the wonderful friends she made there.
Vickie enjoyed the membership of many clubs in her lifetime, including the Lambda Sigma Delta at Dixie University, the Sierra Club of California, the Red Hat Society, various LDS affiliated groups, the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and the senior citizens center in Evanston.
Vickie was a lifelong devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the church was the foundation of her life.
Vickie enjoyed traveling to beautiful places including touring the continental U.S., Hawaii, France and the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. She has lived in California, Utah, New York and Wyoming. Vickie loved her family, especially the sound of her grandchildren. She also enjoyed collector items, scrapbooking, fine foods, her cat Marni and good friendships, which she treasured dearly.
Throughout her lifetime, three things were most important to Vickie: God, family and friends. Our world is brighter and more beautiful because of her.
Vickie is preceded in death by her mother, father and her daughter Cambria.
She is survived by Jarred (Susan); grandchildren William and Alex of New York; Derrek (Anna), and Jaiden, Joaquin, Josephine and Jaina of California.
May our mother, grandmother and dear friend rest in heavenly embrace.
Vickie, you will be missed.
