Leslie Dean Odom

With broken hearts, we share the passing of Leslie Dean Odom—our husband, dad, brother, papa, veteran, and friend to so many. Les left us on February 3, 2025, after a brave and hard-fought battle with cancer. His legacy of kindness, generosity, and unwavering love will forever remain in our hearts.

Les was born on November 27, 1965, in Reedsport, Oregon. From a young age, he was curious, inventive, and always ready to tinker with anything mechanical. Whether he was building, fixing, or simply figuring out how things worked, Les brought creativity and passion to everything he touched. After graduating from Van Buren High School, Les joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served with pride as an aircraft mechanic. During Desert Storm, he answered the call to serve his country with courage and honor.

Above all else, Les was a family man. He married his soulmate, Toni, and together they built a life filled with love, laughter, and countless cherished memories. Les was the proud dad of Terri Denise Odom (Kibler, AR), Justin Haller (Fayetteville, AR), and Ashley Haller (Van Buren, AR). He was a big brother to Tina Odom (Rogers, AR), and a favorite uncle to Nickohlas Odom (Fort Smith, AR). But the role that brought him the greatest joy was being "Papa" to his grandchildren: Abbie, Chloe, Ryleigh, Caruso, Finley, Chad, Liberty, and Gracelyn. He cherished every moment with them, creating lasting memories.

Les had a love for life and a wide array of interests that reflected his adventurous spirit. He had a passion for rare coin collecting and spent many happy weekends boating and camping at the lake with his family and friends. Les also had a heart for giving back. He volunteered his time with causes that mattered deeply to him, being recognized and honored for many hours serving and mentoring for the Sebastian County Veterans Treatment Court. His acts of kindness, big and small, left a lasting impact on everyone he met.

Les was preceded in death by his parents, Darrel and Marie Odom, and we take comfort in knowing they are reunited now. Les’s laughter, strength, and boundless love will remain in our hearts forever. He touched our lives in ways that words cannot fully capture, and his memory will continue to inspire us to live with the same kindness and generosity he showed every day.

We invite all who knew and loved Les to join us in celebrating his life. A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 10, 2025, at Bethlehem Free Will Baptist Church in Van Buren with a committal of ashes at 2:00 p.m. at the Fort Smith National Cemetery. Cremation is under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren, AR.