Renae Ormsby Obituary (1933 – 2022) – Odessa, TX

ODESSA – Renae Bodily Ormsby left this world on April 4, 2022 to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was surrounded by her children, Venita, Jimmie and Sterling and her two daughter-in-laws, Lynn and Sharon. She died peacefully, at home, which is where she wanted to be.

Renae Bodily was born May 10, 1933 to Sterling and Reva (Hall) Bodily. She was born and grew up in Vernal, Utah, the oldest of six children. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

While in Vernal, Utah, she met Edward Ormsby. She was the girl who sold movie tickets at the local theater. Ed was entrance with her beautiful blue eyes. He had actually gone there to find out where the boarding house was. After being told by her where it was, he came back and asked her if she needed a ride home. She didn’t have one so accepted a ride with him. He asked permission from her parents to court her. After dating for a while, Edward joined the church. Upon being transferred to another place, in going back and forth on dangerous mountain roads, Renae’s parents encouraged them to marry. They were married October 21, 1950. Later, this marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in February 1952.

The couple moved to over 50 different locations in the United States due to Ed’s employment in the oil field. Meanwhile, three children were born to the couple, Jimmie David, Venita Beth, and Sterling Mark.

Renae Ormsby worked as a florist in Sonora, Texas. Next, she worked for Jack Jordan’s Barbeque before becoming a loan officer at Odessa Savings and Loan. She became a trusted loan officer to many citizens of Odessa at Odessa Savings and Loan.

Renae had many varied interests in her life. She loved sewing, making floral arrangements which many people requested her to do. Cooking, especially the scones on a Saturday morning for hungry grandchildren. The gardening of plants, flowers, and vegetables. We would often find her outside, happily pulling weeds, just for the fun of it. Renae played the accordion, piano, and organ well. However, she didn’t read music, this gift was by ear, and she credited that gift to God. She would listen to a cassette tape or a CD. Then listen to it again. When she thought she had memorized the music and rhythm, she would sit down at the piano or organ and begin to play it. It was amazing to watch her work it out. She had a keen interest in family history work and helped many other people with their own family history. She loved working with family history and absolutely loved to go to the temple of the Lord. She became a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Descendants of the Mayflower, and the Orphan Train Society.

Renae served in many leadership positions within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was a District Relief Society President, Stake Relief Society President, Stake Young Women’s President, and the Stake Social Services Representative for unwed mothers. She served as a mother for Cub Scouts 10 times. She was a Ward Organist and pianist for over 50 years. She was the Family History Director for many years for the Odessa Wards. She was also a Chaperone of the World Dance Festival in Salt Lake City.

She loved her family dearly. It has been said by many, that she was one of the most compassionate and loving people they had ever met.

Survivors include: her son Jimmy Ormsby and wife Sharon of Odessa, daughter Venita Ormsby Jones and husband Larry of Layton, Utah, son Sterling Ormsby and wife Lynn of Odessa, brother Sterling Verdin Bodily and wife Evelyn of Vernal, Utah, 18 grandchildren, and 48 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by: husband Edward David Ormsby, brothers Irving Vance Bodily and Larry Clell Bodily, sisters, Velma Loy Bodily and Clela Bodily, parents, Sterling Bodily and Reva Hall Bodily, and two grandchildren, Larissa Renae Ormsby and Taylor David Ormsby .

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 8th at 2 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 5401 John Ben Shepperd Parkway, Odessa, Texas. President Christopher Vore will be presiding with Bishop Jeffrey Avery conducting. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Samuel Jones, Jacob Jones, Joshua Jones, Stephen Jones, Andrew Jones, Michael Jones, Timothy Jones, Ethan Ormsby, Christopher Ormsby, Jonathan Ormsby, Daniel Ormsby, Matthew Ormsby, Benjamin Ormsby, Philip Ormsby and Alexander Ormsby will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Larry Jones, Verdin Bodily and Taylor Ormsby.

Published by Odessa American on Apr. 6, 2022.

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