Obituary of Otis Odell Mabry

Otis Odell Mabry May 23, 1923 - October 03, 2015 Graveside services for Otis Odell Mabry, 92, of Lovington, NM will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 11:00 am at the Carlsbad Cemetery on Boyd Drive in Carlsbad, NM. Arrangements are under the direction of Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home. Otis was born on May 23, 1923 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to John Eugene and Lola (Reynolds) Mabry and passed away on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Center in Lovington. He was the oldest of five children. His parents passed away when he was sixteen, and the four younger children were sent to an orphanage in Pryor, OK but Otis was too old to be accepted so he was left to take care of himself. His best friend was Waymon Lightfoot and Waymon’s parents took Otis into their home. In later years Waymon and Otis married sisters, Athleen and Nell. Otis and Nell raised their family and shared fifty years together. He and Waymon were like brothers and enjoyed every minute of their time for fifty plus years. They shared a love for fishing and hunting and spent many treasured times together. Otis was a very responsible man and through the years he kept contact with his siblings and sent money to help support his sisters and brothers as much as he could. He joined the army when he was eighteen and served in WWII fighting in the “Battle of the Bulge” receiving several medals for his service. He was employed by Phillips Petroleum for thirty plus years before his retirement. Otis was proud of his Masonic affiliation and he loved his Masonic brothers and his lodge and was one of the avid domino players that used to meet and play after meetings. After the loss of his sons he gained a son-in-law, Virlon,whom he shared a very special bond with and they were friends and hunting and fishing buddies for thirty seven years. In April of 1996, Otis married Peggy Blackwood Hand here in Lovington and they shared 19 years together. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, two sons: Donald and Tommy Mabry; one brother: Tommy Mabry and three sisters: Ellen Evenson, Betty House and Colleen Kosowsky. He is survived by his wife, Peggy of the home, one daughter: Linda and husband Virlon Smith of Midland, TX; four step-daughters: Sue Walters, Myra Long and Cindy Marquez of Lovington and Amy Hand of Hobbs, NM; and one stepson: Jimmy Hand of Artesia. Also surviving him are his two grandchildren that he loved very much: Kelli and husband Justin Brooks of Midland and Ky and wife Randi Smith of Midland; four great-grandchildren and numerous step-grandchildren and many special nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 from noon until 8:00 pm. Condolences may be sent to www.kirbysmithrogers.com.