Buford Eli Odom

NELSON CEMETERY

Clay County Arkansas Genealogy Trails

Contributed by Detia Roe

ODOM, Buford E., b. 29 Nov 1905; d. 15 Sep 1960.*

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http://www.familyorigins.com/users/s/w/i/Charles-H-Swindle/FAMO5-00...

2468. Buford Eli ODOM was born on Nov 29 1905 in Maynard, Arkansas. He died on Sep 15 1960 in Farmington, Missouri. Buford, was very much a Business Man, with an attitude for making a good living. He came to Reyno, AR. from the Maynard, AR. area, and farmed the ground of Will Jackson, formerly owned by Mitchell 'Dock' Odom. Cloyce went to school, the first few years, by walking the distance to town, about 3 or 4 miles, and often in the snow of winter.

Buford, would butcher and sell meat, out of the back of an old Ford Truck, a Model 'T' or 'A', or both. He then procured the right to open the Barb-B-Que stand at the summer 'Carnival' at the park in Reyno, along with Adren Jackson. They made good money for the time. They built a large fire pit where the meat was cooked and a stand, where it was sold in sandwiches and by the pound to take home.

Buford then bought his first business in town, a Pool Hall and Beer Bar with a sandwich coffee shop. Sold out for a profit and bought a restaurant in Biggers.

He sold that and then bought a small Grocery Store, in Reyno, from Till Glasco. Soon it expanded and took over the store next door, a Beauty Shop operated by Dorothy Ladd. The grocery store, soon became well known as "Odom's Grocery". The next expansion was to move to a larger building 2 doors away, into a building owned by Will Jackson, an Uncle, who was the town Barber. The store grew and new lines of merchandise was added each year.

As Cloyce grew up through high school, he worked in this store and drove the delivery truck from age 12 on up. After High School graduation, a stint in Memphis at Draughon Business College, then became associated with his father in the store.

Years later after selling the store, they bought a Wholesale Milling Company in Corning. This was operated for 3 years with 3 trucks, and sold to move to Arizona for health reasons. In Arizona Cloyce received a draft notice and returned to Corning. Buford and Bernice operated a 5 & 10 cent store while Cloyce served in the USMC, in California. Cloyce never returned to work with them, but went to college and then back to California for a career. Buford was killed in an automobile accident in Missouri, while on a buying trip for the store. Cloyce went back for the funeral, sold everything and moved Bernice, out to CA. The rest is her story.

He was married to Bernice Ora DAVIS (daughter of Rufus Author "Rufe" DAVIS and Vera Irene DOWNEY) on Nov 12 1926 in Paragould, Green Co., Arkansas. Bernice Ora DAVIS was born on Jun 10 1905 in Maynard, Arkansas. Bernice always helped in whatever business her husband had, and doubled as a housewife, as most women do. Her story is pretty much the same as for her husband, Buford, except to continue after his death.

Cloyce moved his Mom to California to live. It was too much for her in someone else's household, and she went to work taking care of an elderly man in Anaheim. There she met Harvey Wiser and remarried. They lived in Carpenteria, CA. close to Santa Barbara, for 20 + years, when he died of an acute heart attack.

She sold the property, and bought another in La Habra, for a few years. She sold this property to buy in with Anita and live with her. They bought a large mobile home and located it in Laguna Hills. After a few years, she became most unhappy, and Cloyce moved her to Sun City, where she resides at this time. She is happy here close to her son and he cares for her needs that she cannot care for herself. She just bought another Mobil Home and is not happy living in her own place again, at 91. Buford Eli ODOM and Bernice Ora DAVIS had the following children