Lucy Odom

Lucy Odom, 85, longtime resident of Big Spring, passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2025, surrounded by her family. Viewing will be from 1:00 pm until 9:00 pm Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Monday, May 19, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church with interment following at Trinity Memorial Park.

Lucy was born January 26, 1940, on her grandparents’ farm south of Haslet, Tx, and moved to Big Spring in 1947 with her parents, J.D. & Leona Thompson. In October of 1951 her sister, Jane, was born. She grew up in Big Spring and was scheduled to graduate from BSHS in 1958, but in the summer ’54 she met the love of her life, Paschal Odom. Through grit and determination, she earned enough credits to graduate a year early. She and Paschal married July 20, 1957, and moved to College Station.

Lucy worked for TAMU while Paschal finished his degree. His subsequent employment with The Western Co. took them on a whirlwind tour of the small West Texas oilfield towns.

In 1960, they moved back and made Big Spring their home —a welcoming home filled with love, joy, laughter, food, and tons of kids running in and out. Their daughter, Jill, was born in 1958 and son, Jack in 1960. Their home was the birthplace of many loving and fun memories. Lucy talked Paschal into paneling the garage and it was the sight of many a junior high “dance” decorated with crepe paper streamers, balloons and tons of food. She never cared if the music (from the little record player) was too loud. As long as the kids behaved themselves, she was happy! And there may have been some times when she would pop out to make sure the garage light was on. Lucy loved the Kentwood neighborhood and the elementary school-she was room mom for one grade or another for 8 years and “served every position” in the Kentwood PTA. Her car of choice was a station wagon, and it was always full of kids! Most Friday nights, if there wasn’t a dance in the garage, you would find her driving kids to and from the Ritz or R-70 movie theaters. All the kids’ friends loved her-and called her Lucy.

Once Jack entered jr. high, she went back to work and college. Her first job was working at Howard College and she eventually became manager of the HC bookstore-oh how she loved the students and faculty of HC. Lucy started taking classes at Howard and eventually graduated with a degree from UTPB in education. It was then that Paschal decided to change careers and they moved to Saudi Arabia. Jill and Mark had just married and Jack was in college at Panhandle State University in Oklahoma, so it seemed perfect timing to start a new path.

Lucy and Paschal were blessed to travel the world for eight years while living in Saudi Arabia, meeting many new friends from every corner of the world. While in Saudi, she took up golf and continued her love of duplicate bridge, even teaching the other wives how to play. She and Paschal learned how to make beer and wine and never had an empty seat at their table. When an American naval ship would come to port, they would host a houseful of American sailors. Some of her favorite travel stories were going on an African safari, Christmas shopping in Hong Kong and meeting her kids in beautiful places. She loved taking their little sailboat out into the Persian Gulf-a favorite since she didn’t have to abide by the strict Saudi dress code when offshore..

Paschal finished his contract in Saudi, but the moves continued. Long Island, NY, San Diego, CA, Cape Canaveral, FL, and Houston were some of the places they lived. She loved the new adventures and all of the friends.

Her parents were getting older and granddaughters were growing up, so Lucy decided it was time to move back to Big Spring. Paschal kept taking little jobs, but she decided to come home. She took a job at Goliad Middle School and loved teaching 6th-graders and the staff there for many years and also sponsored cheerleaders for a couple of years. Lucy could be found following her niece and nephew (Shannon & Joel Glover) all over West Texas watching them play whatever sport was in season. Then her granddaughters came along and she followed the three of them. If any of them were doing something, she was there watching and cheering them on, and hated to miss any opportunity to love and support them. Family has always been first and foremost to Lucy, and everyone knew how much they were loved.

Besides family, First Presbyterian Church, Texas A&M, and bridge were her passions.

Lucy held every position in Presbyterian Women, and if there was ever a question of when something happened or why, she would tell you and you knew it… She and Paschal loved the Howard County A&M Club and went to many Aggie games. Her love of bridge started when she and Paschal first married, and she played until not long before she died.

Lucy is survived by her children Jill Spannaus (Mark) and Jack Odom (Susan), granddaughters Lindsay Sawyer (Travis), Carrie Spannaus (Tyler Henthorn), and Jessica Odom, great grandchildren Clyde, Georgia, Weston, and William. A sister, Jane Glover (Bob) and a sister-in-law Dolores Odom, many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Paschal Odom and daughter-in-law Laura Odom.

Donations can be made to FPC Big Spring, the Howard County A&M Scholarship, or the Heritage Museum of Big Spring.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home of Big Spring.  Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com

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