Michael (Mickey) Johnson Odom

Michael (Mickey) Johnson Odom went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday April 27th, 2018. Mike was born March 20, 1935 in Marianna, Ark., and was the son of Jess Paul and Willastein Odom of Maumelle, Ark., and brother of Paul D. Odom of Maumelle, Ark. Mike was married for 52 years to the late Jimmie Lee (Douglass) Odom. Mike and Jimmie Lee had two daughters, Shelly (Odom) Perry and Linda (Odom) Alford and 6 grandchildren, Kierstan Lee Wray, Michael Lex Wray (and his wife Whitney), Jessica Lauren Purtle (and her husband Logan) and Payton Walker Perry. Mike graduated from Marianna High School in 1953 and later was a member of the National Guard as Sargent First Class and worked one year as an Assistant Supply Maintenance Technician. Mike saw his active duty in the National Guard in 1957 where he served during the crisis of Central High School in Little Rock. Mike attended both Arkansas A & M and University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he was a member of the U of A Band, which marched at Madison Garden and Fifth Avenue. Over the span of Mike's life, he had the opportunity to participate in and work for many well-known companies. Mike began his work career at age 21 with National Life Insurance Company, the largest life insurance company in Arkansas where he met and married his wife, Jimmie Lee (Douglass) Odom in 1959. While at National Investors, Mike had the opportunity to work with Board members Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as well as working with Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ. When Jess Odom sold National Investors, he then purchased 5500 acres and started the development of Maumelle New Town where Mike headed up the Real Estate Development of the new city. Mr. Odom also purchased Dogpatch USA south of Harrison, Ark., and Mike and his family moved to Harrison where Mike was Director of Operations for 10 years for the theme park. Also at this time, Mr. Odom purchased and developed the National Wildlife club in Newton, County Ark., which was a 1500 acre timeshare resort for hunters and fishermen. After the sale of Dogpatch USA, Mike and Jimmie Lee moved back to Maumelle, Ark., where he served on the new town's first Board of Directors and was appointed the city's first Mayor. In the mid 80's Mike joined TCBY as VP of Real Estate and traveled the US approving franchise locations for the yogurt company. After retiring in 2006, Mike and Jimmie Lee moved back to Harrison, Ark. Mike had many accomplishments in his life. His family would like to say a little more about the wonderful man we loved. Paw Paw was passionate about his favorite sport teams. He was an avid sports fan, especially of any sport that one of his kids or grandkids was participating in. You could always find him dressed in either Harrison Goblin, Springdale Bulldog, Arkansas Razorback, OBU Tiger or various traveling baseball team fan gear. We knew that Paw Paw loved us all so very much. He captured every moment with a picture! Paw Paw loved so many people that he met along his life's journey. Friends he made and those he worked with became our new adopted family members. We will forever remember how he impacted so many lives. Most importantly, Paw Paw loved the Lord Jesus Christ and talked endlessly with each of his family members about placing their trust and salvation in Him. We rejoice in the fact that he is now in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Visitation with the family will be held at First Baptist Church in Harrison, Ark., Sunday, April 29, 2018 from 1:00-3:00pm. Funeral services will be held at Riverwood Memorial Gardens located in Maumelle, Ark., Monday, April 30, 2018 at 2:00pm. Visitation with the family will precede the service graveside at 1:00pm. Pall bearers will be Michael Wray, Payton Perry, Carl Keys, Paul Odom, Wayne Thompson and Randy Laverty. Honorary pall bearers will be Logan Purtle and Bill Brumbelow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Newton County Nursing Home located in Jasper, Ark. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200. Mr. Odom's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.