Richard James O’Dell, 91, of rural Kellerton, Iowa, passed away peacefully with family by his side October 24, 2020, at Mount Ayr Health Care Center.

          Richard was born on December 1, 1928, to Albert and Stella (Bowen) O’Dell.

          On August 3, 1945, he married Bernice Ruth Stewart. To this union was born a daughter, Hazel Lee, and four years later a son, Roger James.

          Family meant everything to them as they made their lives together on the farm southeast of Kellerton, where they raised their family and worked the farm. Richard also ran a dozer helping build roads and assisted other family members with moving houses.

          Richard loved the farm life; coyote hunting; taking the grandkids fishing and playing games with them; and sipping on some good sweet tea.

          After Bernice’s passing in 2002, Richard had the companionship of Patricia (Pat) Straight for the next seventeen years. They loved and cared for one another until her passing in 2019.

          He was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Stella, wife Bernice, daughter Hazel Lee (O’Dell) Saxton, brother Willard O’Dell, sister-in-law Ann O’Dell, sister Opal Bellamy, brother-in-law Jim Bellamy, and companion Pat Straight.

          Those left to cherish his memory are his son Roger of Kellerton, sister Geraldine (Dave) Thurston of Sun City West, AZ; grandchildren Jack (Shelly) Saxton of Jacksonville, Mo, Barb (Doug) Pickering of Grant City, MO, Bob (Lisa) Saxton of Skidmore, MO, Ryan (Cindee) O’Dell of Leon, IA; step-grandson Ryan (Karen) Murphy; great-grandchildren Wade Saxton, Cassidy Saxton, Jodi (Brett) England, Dillon (Bailey) Drake, Brandon (Katie Mitzlaff) Saxton, Aaron Saxton, Rylon O’Dell, Carleigh O’Dell, and Reese O’Dell; great-great grandchildren Jase and Avery England; extended family and many friends.