Garrett “Leland” O’Dell, Sr., or “Coach,” as he was fondly known by most of North Kansas City, was born on February 21, 1922 in Lexington, Missouri, to George Harrison O’Dell and Elizabeth “Bessie” Belle (Eatherton) O’Dell, and departed from this life on November 2, 2021 at the age of 99, at home with family.
Leland married Eleanor “Sue” Liston on May 26, 1950 in Oak Grove, Missouri, and they raised three children together during their 51-year marriage. He graduated from Lexington High School in 1940, then attended Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri, where he was sworn into the Army in 1942. He was a World War II veteran who served in the 201st infantry regiment, heavy weapons company. He was stationed in the Aleutian Islands for most of his enlistment, then trained military recruits at Camp Wheeler near Macon, Georgia.
After returning from duty, Leland graduated from Central Missouri State with a bachelor’s degree and later went on to earn a master’s degree in education from the University of Missouri – Columbia. He taught high school physical education, history, and driver’s education for 35 years, and had a long and successful coaching career of over 50 years, including football, basketball, track, and pole vault. He taught and coached at Oak Grove High School from 1949-1950, where his football team boasted their first undefeated season in the history of the school, and they were inducted into the Wall of Fame there in 2015. After attending graduate school he also taught and coached at Sikeston, Missouri from 1951-1956, with his team losing only one game in those five years.
The O’Dells moved to North Kansas City in 1956, where Leland had continued success, boasting 6 undefeated football teams in his first nine years of coaching and taking 3 basketball teams to state. Coach retired from teaching in 1986 but continued coaching the sports he loved until 2005, spending the last 49 years of his career at North Kansas City High School, where he greatly impacted many students’ lives. He was also the manager of the North Kansas City Public Swimming Pool for over 40 years, and an avid Boy Scout Leader and Scoutmaster for over 3 decades.
Leland was preceded in death by his wife Sue and is survived by their three children; Roberta Elizabeth (Beth) Salmans and husband Keith Salmans of Marysville, Kansas; Susan Lea O’Dell of Rancho Mirage, California; and Garrett (Gary) Leland O’Dell, Jr. and wife Melissa (Lisa) Marie O’Dell of Gower, Missouri; as well as three grandchildren; Jessie Jean O’Dell of Princeton, Missouri; Dawn Christine (O’Dell) Petersen and husband Michael Alexander Petersen of Kansas City, Missouri; and Garrett Leland O’Dell III of Sterling, Connecticut; and two great-grandchildren, Iyanah Jaelyn Petersen and Joshua Michael Petersen.
A visitation for Garrett will be held Tuesday, November 16, 2021 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. A funeral service will follow at 1:00pm. A graveside service will follow the service in Mount Moriah Cemetery South.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to The First Christian Church Of North Kansas City, 2018 Gentry Street, North Kansas City, MO 64116.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mtmoriah.net for the O'Dell family.
