Alice Jean Odell-Westcott

Alice Jean Odell was born September 27, 1924, at her parents’ home on Cherry Street in Kendall, MI. Her parents were Gilbert Allen Odell (ticket agent and leverman for the Michigan Central Railroad) and Amelia Marie Reigle-Odell (Dr. Wilkinson’s midwife and postmaster for the Kendall Post Office). As a young girl, she was raised by a family who showed her unconditional love—her Grandma Odell and Uncle Charley in particular. Grandma Odell read her lots of stories from the Bible, and her Uncle Charley took her to the fields to work at the sheep fold just southwest of the main four corners in Kendall. Churning butter and drinking the buttermilk were also parts of growing up that she loved. The train station in Kendall was a big part of her life, and as far as traveling was concerned, she would often go to Kalamazoo, and during the summer, the family took many trips to Mackinac City camping near the lighthouse. She graduated from Gobles High School in 1942 and started working at Checker Cab in Kalamazoo. Later, in 1943, a young man named Earl Charles Westcott was given a 5-day leave from the Army Air Corp (he was stationed in Tucson at the time). His time in the Army Air Corp/Air Force was spent as a waist gunner on B-24 bombers. He arrived home on a Wednesday and proposed to Jean on the way home from Kalamazoo. They were married Thursday, spent time with family and friends both Friday and Saturday, and Sunday he left for Tucson. By July 1st, he was in England; by August 1st he had been shot down twice, and the second time he ended up being a Prisoner of War in Rumania. After close to 14 months, he was able to return home, and in a couple of years a family was started. Son James Allen Westcott was born October 23, 1945. Jim married Linda Jean Little (deceased 1995) and later married Ruth Angel. Surviving grandchildren are Susan Kay (Chris) Best, Shari Lynn Smith, Cindy Jean (Kelli) Rumery, Daniel Earl Westcott (Schuyler). Son Dwight Earl Westcott was born 1951 and died in 1952. Daughter Pamela Sue Westcott (b. September 19, 1958) also survives. In addition, Jean and Earl were a couple who opened their home to numerous young people needing an extra guiding hand. Jean spent much of her life teaching English, Shorthand, Typing, and Journalism at Bloomingdale High School where she was very involved with the school Yearbook, directed the school plays, and also served as the NHS sponsor. A member of the Kendall United Methodist Church, she taught various levels of Sunday School, attended Church Conferences, was a member of the United Methodist Women’s group, sang in the church choir, headed up luncheons for various activities, and served as the church’s secretary and historian. She was also involved with Wesley Foundation on WMU’s campus, and she served on the Board for Lakeview Hospital in Paw Paw from 1979 to 2003. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren (Gavin, Cade, Cole, Dylan, Peyton, Drew, Lucas and Jackson). Spending summers on Bois Blanc Island were always a highlight each year. Wine time with cheese and crackers always took place with neighbors and friends at 4:00 p.m. In addition, Jean was a founding member of the BBI Historical Society. In her life, she had many friends and was a friend to many. She died peacefully at her home that she and her husband built. Thank you for all the memories, mom. You will be missed. The family will meet friends from 4-7 PM on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the Gobles Chapel, D. L. Miller Funeral Home. The Funeral will be held on Tuesday, June 28 at the Kendall United Methodist Church, Kendall with Pastor Glenn Litchfield officiating. Inurnment will follow funeral at the Kendall Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to the Kendall United Methodist Church or Centrica Care Hospice, https://centricacare.org/giving/

Alice Jean Odell-Westcott

September 27, 1924 - June 19, 2022