OBITUARY: James Everett "Blue Moon" Odom, 1928-2004, Worth Co., Iowa

[Adapted from Northwood Anchor online, June 16, 2004 ]




                    James Everett "Blue Moon" Odom

James Everett "Blue Moon" Odom, 75, of Shalom Towers in Mason City,
Iowa, died Friday, June 11, 2004 at his residence.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday , June 15 at Fullerton
Funeral Home in Mason City, with Rev. Robert Cummings officiating.

James was a lifelong resident of Mason City. He was born on December
7, 1928 to Everett and Mildred (Loeckle) Odom in Mason City. James
was a graduate of the class of 1947 at Mason City High School.

On August 29, 1947 James was united in marriage to Marilyn Pederson
at the Pilot Knob Lutheran Church, rural Ventura. To this union six
children were born. The couple farmed in the Ventura area for several
years. James later worked for Deckers' packing plant where he was
employed for 14 years.

On September 1, 1967 James married Luella Vosburgh. James owned and
operated "Blue Moon's" Bar in Northwood and it was there that he was
affectionately known as "Blue Moon" by local patrons and his friends.

After selling his bar business, James enjoyed buying houses and fixing
them up and selling them. Some of Blue Moon's interests and leisure
activities included traveling to Canada with friends and fishing,
taking road trips and taking in the sites, James liked to search for
unusual roots and fungi, he would varnish them and make decorative
shelves and ornaments. James took great pride in both sponsoring and
playing softball. He met for coffee with friends at HyVee and McDonald's.

"Blue Moon" will be best remembered for the cherished time he spent
with his family.

Those grateful for having had the privilege of sharing in Jim's life
are his children, Michael (Stella) Odom of Manly; Douglas Odom and
his significant other, Judy Harms of Charles City; Timothy Odom of
Kensett; Jeffey Odom of Northwood; Lori Odom and her fiancé Craig
Pearce of Kensett; a step son, James Vosburgh of Wisconsin; two
sisters, Irene (Norman) Ballantyne of Clear Lake; Jaunice (Jack)
Bull of Mason City; ten grandchildren, Melonie Allyn; Ole Odom;
Michael E. Odom; Jeremy Odom; Jacob Odom; Lynette (Todd) Schriever;
Mark (Melissa) Odom; Jessica Odom; Sarah Odom and Amy Odom; two
great granddaughters, Nadia Bahnsen and Samantha Schriever; two
step grandchildren, Amy and Heather Vosburgh and a special friend,
Cheryl Klunder of Kensett.

James was preceded in death by his parents; two wives, Marilyn and
Luella; a son, Thomas Odom; a granddaughter, Carrissa Odom and step
son, Thomas Vosburgh.


    Copyright 2004, K. L. Kittleson