Lewis S. Odom

Lewis Shelton Odom was born November 17, 1944 in Haynesville, LA to John S. Odom and Novis Lewis Odom. He went to be with his Heavenly Father and Heavenly family and friends on Thursday, September 5, 2024. We already miss him so much.

Lewis was preceded in death by his mother and father, John Shelton Odom and Novis Lewis Odom, a baby sister, Joan, and older brother, John Wayne Odom. Left to cherish him are his wife of 56 years and 5 year girlfriend, Carol Ann Tabor Odom of Homer, LA, and love of his life, his daughter Natalie Odom Hudec and her husband Matthew Hudec, and two wonderful grandsons, Dylan Shelton Hudec and Jace Matthew Hudec of Bossier City, LA and one sister, Sarah Ruth Odom Reynolds and husband Tom Reynolds of Broken Arrow, OK, brother and sister-in-law, Mark and Karen Tabor Elender of Florence, SC, and nieces and nephews, Gwen Odom Lawrence, husband Ryan Lawrence of Bauxite , AR, and Robin Odom Radford of Bryant, AR, Ashley Aquilar, Broken Arrow, OK, and Trey Reynolds and wife Elisa, of Rogers, AR, Brian Elender and wife, April, from Charleston, SC, and Amanda Elender Gurski and husband Paul, from Charleston, SC, along with great nieces and nephews, Abby Radford, Hunter Radford, and Eli Aquilar, Lucas Reynolds, Brant Reynolds, Claire Gurski, and Charlotte Elender.

There will be a visitation at Rose Neath Funeral Home, in Homer, LA on Friday, September 13, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00. Lewis wished to be cremated. He wants you to celebrate his life. If you wish to commemorate his life, make a donation to your favorite charity, the Arlington Cemetery Fund, The Cornerstone Church, St. Jude’s, or the Shiners organization. Make a difference.

Lewis graduated from Homer High School in 1962 and furthered his education at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA. After receiving his degree in Upper Elementary Education he taught in the Aldine School District in Houston, TX for one year and returned to Louisiana and taught one year in Caddo Parish and then the final move back to God’s country, Claiborne Parish, LA. He then taught for 8 years at Lowe Middle School, Minden, LA. At this point he began working for the State Department of Education in different positions. He was over what was then called the Drug Education program in North Louisiana and then became the Director of Transportation for the State Department of Education and worked in Baton Rouge, LA. During all of this he returned home every weekend to be with his wife and baby girl, Natalie.

Lewis decided to get out of the education field and began working as a Land Man. He studied and became a Certified Petroleum Landman. This entailed running records and leasing land for oil companies. He was affiliated with Hunt Oil Company in Houston, Texas, TXO that was based in Shreveport, LA at that time, Stroud Oil Company, Herd Oil Company, Rosbottom Oil Company, and Will-Drill Resources, Inc. in Shreveport, LA and NR Resources LLC, in Dallas, TX. During his tenure with each of these companies and some that are left out, he traveled the states of Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Again he returned home every weekend to be with his family. Up until his death he was working for NR Resources LLC in Dallas, TX still chasing leases in Claiborne Parish, LA.

During Lewis’ life he was a life guard at the Homer Natatorium, a Boy Scout, and an entrepreneur at a young age, He would pick the apples, peaches, and berries from his yard and sell them to the neighbors and turn empty soda bottles in for refunds. They also had pecan trees and he would get the fallen pecans and sell them to Piggly Wiggly. He was always trying to make money.

Lewis was a member of the Homer Country Club beginning in his 20s when you were called a Junior Member and continued his membership for most of his life, at the club he called bingo games and was Santa for many years. He also was a member of the Petroleum Club of Shreveport and a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church, now Cornerstone Church.

His wish for everyone was, I quote, “If you have a child or grandchild or a friend, show them nature. Take them to the outdoors and go fishing or hunting with them. You can also take them on the lake for water activities. Make someone happy.”

Lewis, Natalie, and I have had a wonderful life. We did everything we wanted to do. He took us on trips to magnificent places and treated me like a Queen and Natalie like a Princess till he went to heaven.

He loved all of his friends and respected everyone. Remember him. God Bless.

 Rose-Neath Funeral Home

Homer Chapel (318) 927-6110