Odom McDaniel Jr.
July 9, 1933 – August 17, 2018
Odom McDaniel, Jr. was born in Vredenburg, Alabama on July 9, 1933 to Odom and Pauline McDaniel, and was their first of four children. Shortly after his birth the family moved to Bogalusa, Louisiana where he grew up. Growing up he had a variety of paper routes and was a pitcher for his high school softball team.
His experiences in the paper mill town of Bogalusa led Odom to decide he wanted to stay in the wood products business, but he wanted to work outdoors instead of in a mill. This decision led him to enroll in the Forestry School of LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Upon graduation from LSU in 1955 Odom was hired by the US Forest Service and received his first assignment at the Ouachita National Forest ranger district in Heavener, Oklahoma. It was in Heavener that he was introduced to his future wife. Odom and Dona Mae Crouch McDaniel were married on May 30, 1956 at her home in Monroe, Oklahoma. This was also when he acquired his family nick name of Mac. Odom worked in other national forests in Florida and South Carolina before being assigned to an inside position at the ranger district office in Alexandria, Louisiana, and it was here he acquired his work nick name of Odie. In Alexandria Odom and Dona's two children were born, David Odom McDaniel and Dona Lynette McDaniel Popham. Odom was preceded in death by his parents, Odom and Pauline; youngest brother Marvin McDaniel and sister Annie McDaniel; and his wife of 61 years Dona. He is survived by his brother George McDaniel: his son and daughter-in-law David and Darlene McDaniel; his daughter and son-in-law Lynette and Randy Popham; his grandchildren Christopher Odom McDaniel, Elizabeth McDaniel, Justin Popham and wife Lauren, and Taylor Popham and wife Bridget; and one precious great granddaughter Penelope Popham.
Graveside service is 11:00 a.m. Tuesday August 21, 2018 at Monroe Community Cemetery, Monroe, Oklahoma. The family will greet friends from 4-6 p.m. on Monday at Matthews Funeral Home.