Services for Dovie Odessia Porter, 94, of Martins Mill are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 10, 2019, at First Baptist Church in Canton with Bro. Mike Roberson officiating under direction of Eubank Funeral Home.
Odessia was born in Martins Mill, TX on May 31, 1925, to Cammie G. Lottie Stringer Peel and Oscar Odell Peel.
She was called home to greet her Savior on August 5, 2019, in Terrell, TX.
She grew up on the farm and loved to ride the cultivator to the field with her daddy, and played in the shade under the wagon. She was the oldest sister and learned to cook from one of the best, her mother, Mama Peel. Odessia graduated from Martins Mill High School in 1943 in the class where Liston Barber was voted the most popular boy, and Vivian Chaney was voted the most beautiful girl. Odessia met the love of her life, Conley Porter, at a barn dance when he visited from Murchison. He thought she was the prettiest thing he had ever seen in her blue dress. When he shipped out during WWII, he mailed her a ring and asked her to join him in marriage in Florida. Her mother, Ms. Lottie, refused to let her go. After graduation, she moved with several girlfriends to Dallas to begin work at the phone company, where she was employed for 41 years. The only interruption was her maternity leave in 1952. Charles Conley Porter and Dovie Odessia Peel were married on October 21, 1944, while he was home on leave; riding the bus from Dallas to Martins Mill where they were joined in matrimony at the home of the preacher. They went to Athens on their honeymoon in a vehicle borrowed from his brother. And they got stuck in the sand on the country lane near the Peel home of her parents. They lived most of their married life, almost 67 years, in the Dallas area. She taught 5th grade Sunday School at Bethany Baptist Church, loved on many friends and neighbors at Casa View Baptist and First Baptist Garland. She was known as Mother, Grandmommie, Aunt Sissy, Aunt Dessa, and lots of other endearments by her late husband. In retirement, they often walked in their Garland neighborhood, and both enjoyed gardening with a showplace yard. She was an outstanding cook, renowned for her pecan pie. In later life, they moved back to Martins Mill and became members of First Baptist Canton. Odessia loved Jesus and spent her time with Him daily in the Bible and Open Windows with her morning coffee. Her life was well lived. She loved passionately on her family, Andrea, Alex, Chloe and Conley, as well as Josh and JD.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lottie and Odell Peel; her husband, Charles Conley Porter; and her siblings: Oscar Peel, Top Peel, Noma Dell Peel Hiller.
She is survived by her daughter, Cathy Calfy and husband Jim of Martins Mill TX; her grandson, Josh Smith and wife, Stephanie of Battle Creek MI; and her grandson, Jared Smith and wife Leslie of Keller TX; great grandchildren, Andrea and Alex Smith and Chloe and Conley Smith; her sister, Mary Simmons of Martins Mill; and numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews.
Family will receive friends Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Children at Heart Ministries, 1301 N. Mays St., Round Rock TX 78664 or Samaritan’s Purse Ministries, PO Box 3000, Boone NC 28607.
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