BIRDWELL, O'dessa M. (Murray)

Funeral for O’dessa Birdwell, 98, Fletcher, will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, at the Fletcher First Baptist Church. She died Sunday, July 5, 2009, in Chickasha. Burial will be at Mt. View Cemetery, Fletcher, under direction of Fletcher Funeral Home. She was born Feb. 3, 1911, in Wanette, the daughter of Frank and Margaretta (Haun) Murray. She was raised in and around the Maysville area before moving to Rush Springs where she graduated from high school. She received her bachelors degree from the Oklahoma College for Women in 1933. Her first teaching job was at Hughes Consolidated where she taught for three years before moving on to Fletcher where she taught for the next 30 years. She established its high school’s first home economics and typing classes. She spent 19 years teaching business classes before retiring in 1971. She was a member of the Oklahoma Education Association, OCW Alumni Association, Mt. View Home Demonstration Club, Fleur de lis Garden Club, and the Church of Christ in Fletcher. Survivors include one sister, Anna Fern Robison, Midwest City; daughter, Benita Bray, Rush Springs; son, James Murray Birdwell, Fletcher; and daughter, Judy King, Lindale, Texas; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, J.W. Birdwell; and her brothers: Raymond, Henry B. and Frank Murray. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Harrel/Childs Scholarship Fund at Fletcher High School or to the Fletcher Community Association.