Page 21 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2021- Online Magazine

EXCEPTIONAL SENIORS

family-raising days as a congenial soul
that feeding and who broke down
housing and clothing walls that had
a houseful of kids on separated Christians
a small-church pastor for generations.
salary was almost Long-divided
impossible. As the congregations
kids got bigger, their merged because
needs also grew. So, of his loving
Odell began filling leadership.
their budget gap
by using skills he Now in his
had learned—just retirement years,
as Jesus did—while Odell no longer
working alongside stands in a pulpit
his carpenter father. every week, and
he says he has
To keep the family’s done his last major
food and doctor bills construction project.
from piling up, Odell But this doesn’t
began building (or mean he’s idle. He
re-building) rental and his wife retired
houses, that he then from their dual work
rented or sold for a roles in Littlefield
profit. Almost before and moved to
he knew it, this small- Lubbock, where
church minister was Odell now uses his
building fine homes extraordinary gamut
and apartments understood the risks involved but of experience and
all across the Lubbock-Anton- still chose to be generous and kind skills to support and bless the
Littlefield territory. At one point to those in need. ministries and members of the
he owned and managed as many During his almost three decades Quaker Avenue Church of Christ,
as 16 rentals, but during all those of being a pastor and carpenter which they now call their church
years, he still managed to pastor and landlord, Odell’s reputation home. They’re often busy in the life
his small flock and preach almost became widely known, especially of that church (when they’re not
every Sunday. even busier spoiling grandkids).
in the South Plains area. People in
Anyone who knows Odell Farr all aspects of
won’t be surprised to learn that the construction
his rental business morphed and rental
into a housing ministry. “Dad is industry
generous,” one of his sons told pointed to him
me. Repeatedly, he would help as one man you
renters who had fallen onto hard could trust.
times, sometimes letting them take Always. If he
advantage of him and his kindness. said it, you
Although this often frustrated his could bank on
own family, they can now look it. And in his
back and see that, instead of being pastoral role he
a pigeon or a softie, Odell fully became known

Lubbock Senior Link 21