Sarah RoJean O'Dell Obituary (1941 - 2021)

Sarah RoJean (Sheppard) O'Dell was born on December 28, 1941, in Twin Falls, ID to Eugene and Ida Sheppard. She was the 5th child of 6 children. Growing up on Polk Street in Twin Falls she had many memories to share as she recalled her childhood with Marissa - her granddaughter. 1) Mom attended Washington Elementary School on a busy 5 points intersection in Twin Falls. Walking 8 blocks to and from school AND going home for lunch, the Sheppard kids walked up hill, both ways, in 8 ft. of snow 4 times a day...as mom put it. She had to wear dresses and ugly, but warm brown long socks in the winter. The girls were able to wear pants on the last of school. 2) In the summer, mom and her friends would take the cucumbers from her mother's garden - the ones that were too big - cut them in half, pull the seeds out and make boats that would then float down the ditch in the alley. 3) Another adventure the kids enjoyed was the rope swing at the end of the alley. Located by a culvert that would fill with water in the summer months, the kiddos would swing and then drop into the water. 4) Mother spoke often of Christmas time at the Sheppard household. Candy and nuts abounded around the house in decorative bowls. Her mom spent much time baking cookies and candies for the holidays. Oranges were a special treat, only around at Christmas time for the family. On Christmas morning, one present per child was opened and enjoyed. 5) Every Saturday, the tub was filled with hot water in the kitchen, and it was bath time for the Sheppard kids. After baths, the kids went to the Roxy Theatre for a 10-cent movie. Sundays' favorite activity for mom was the family listening to the radio - "The Shadow Knows" and "Amos and Andy" were among her favorites. 6) Finally, mom's childhood memories included Monday laundry day. All laundry was done that day, using a wooden washboard. Clothes were then hung to dry - they had to be hung perfectly or her mother would go redo it. During the winter, it took clothes all day and all night, but the clothes would eventually dry. Of course, what followed was ironing day on Tuesdays. Mom went on to O'Leary Junior High School and graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1960. During high school, she participated in drill team. Soon thereafter she married Charles Dale Ward. They lived in Twin Falls, North Bend, OR and Moscow. To them, 3 children were born: Chuck, Brad and Lisa. Chuck and Brad's memories of mom include swimming lessons at Blake's Big T, her attending every baseball and basketball game during little league, cookies after school, her teaching Brad to skip while he was in kindergarten - she was an active parent during the kids' elementary years. Mom then worked as a waitress at Kotos Cafe in Twin Falls. She met and married Jerry Grant O'Dell in 1975. They lived in Twin Falls, Hansen and Nampa until Jerry's untimely death in 1992. To them, 3 children were born: Jeremy, Becky and Michael. Jerry's children: Jim, Randy, Melvin, Angie, Shelby, Shauna and Shannon were a big part of their lives in both Twin Falls and Nampa. There were kids around for many of mom's years! We all remember her fondly. Mom started working in the nursing home industry and did so for 11 years before retiring for health reasons - obtaining her CNA certificate. She especially enjoyed bowling whenever she could - she was pretty darn good! Mom lived with Brad, Lisa, Becky, and Jeremy for most of her years after retirement. She spent much time with Steven and Randa while she lived with Brad/Teresa. She was involved with Racheal, Bruce, David, Mason and Marissa while she lived with Lisa and Mark. While living with Jeremy and Brandi, Savanna, Bryson, and Jake enjoyed her company. And the final 11 years of mom's life were spent with Troy and Becky - where she enjoyed her 5 grandchildren: Gavin, Bridger, Becket, Stella and Graham. Mom got to spend quality time with Kyle as his babysitter after kindergarten - taking him to every thrift store in the Treasure Valley. Micheal was mom's pride and joy - and in her later years her reason for being. He was always mom's favorite - for good reason - (Michael, will you please come up here with me - now will the rest of his siblings please stand - now you can see why he's the favorite!) No matter what the situation, how old everybody was, or what the financial situation was, CAMPING was a huge part of mom's life...it was a family reunion for all along with the BBQ's we had when her health would not allow her to camp. Sarah was preceded in death by two siblings, Lorraine McCollum and Rusty Sheppard; her husband Jerry; and two children, Lisa Vollbrecht and Jeremy O'Dell. She is survived by her siblings Dick Sheppard and Mary Edgar; her children who you met earlier;18 grandchildren, 19.25 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great- grandchild.