LaHoma Kathryn Odom Wooten

LaHoma Kathryn Wooten was born at home in Montalba, east Texas, on May 10, 1936 to parents Jewel and Homer Mathis. She was the 2nd of four siblings. She was raised in church and had a strong faith as a child and attended a Church of Christ. LaHoma lived at home until a few months after a blind date with Raymond Monroe “Moe” Odom, Jr who was attending Texas A&M University. They married at age 16 (LaHoma) and 18 on Oct. 26th, 1952. She lived in the married housing with Monroe part of the time and with his parents part of the time to obtain her diploma with honors at Palestine High School. LaHoma was as much an Aggie as Monroe, going to all the games as he was in the Aggie Band and all the dances with him. When Monroe graduated, he shortly went to work for Shell Oil Company with a degree in Accounting. LaHoma stayed at home and went about the business of making a home and having two children, a boy, Keith, and girl Sheila, 2 years apart to the day, on Oct. 14, 1956 & 58. Faith was an important part of their marriage and family and they attended a Church of Christ wherever they lived. Their first home was in Deer Park, TX, then Pasadena, TX, then a couple detours out of Texas to New Jersey and Illinois for about 4-5 years. They then went back to Texas as soon as they could, settling in Spring, TX where they built a house and raised their family in Northampton. LaHoma was very involved in her children’s lives and activities and family vacations were a yearly occurrence. LaHoma and Monroe never stopped dating and dancing, square dancing and two-stepping. Monroe greeted LaHoma with a daily kiss when he arrived home from work every day. Hugs and “I Love You” were common place around our home. The Odom home was a home filled with faith and unconditional love. They were married 32 years when Monroe died at the age of 51 on Feb. 12, 1985. LaHoma was 48 years old, devastated, and deeply grieved.

After a period of time, LaHoma began attending a Single’s Sunday School Class at Bammel Church of Christ. She met Thomas “Tommy” Jess Wooten, Jr, also a widower at single’s class and Tommy asked her out. They fell in love and were meant to be. Its not often a woman gets a second love that adores her as much as the first. They dated a few months and then married on July 3rd, 1987 and were married 32 years until Tommy’s death on Nov. 16, 2018. LaHoma and Tommy loved to travel. In fact, Tommy had to take early retirement to be able to keep up with her “vacation calendar”. They loved to cruise and cruise they did all over the world; seventeen cruises in 19 years. Vacations to Las Vegas were spread in between. Also, in between vacations, they made church a priority at Bammel Church of Christ and were active in Bible Study, PrimeTimers, and 88. They also loved to play bridge and were on many bowling leagues. Family was important and they never missed birthdays for their children, births and birthdays of grandchildren. They also took time to go fishing with family, as well as play games and puzzles with the grandkids. LaHoma loved Christmas and Thanksgiving with her family.

LaHoma’s son, Keith died at age 47 on May 9, 2004 and she was there during his battle with cancer and death. Battling her own illness with dementia the last 9 years of her life, LaHoma was ready to go home when she passed peacefully in her sleep with COVID on Jan. 26.2021 at the age of 84.

LaHoma leaves behind a sister, Shirley Rutledge & spouse Lloyd, a daughter Sheila Gillette & husband Greg, nephew Layne Vannoy & wife Amy, five grandchildren including, Chris Gillette & wife Rachel, Geoff Gillette & wife Heather, Michael Odom & wife Teri, Ray Odom, and DeNeah Cox & husband David; as well as, ten great- grandchildren. These lives that will be forever changed by LaHoma’s influence, kindness, faithfulness, and unconditional love.