Odean Harper

Odean "Deanie" Harper, 81, passed away Thursday, March 13, 2008, at her home in Jackson.

She was born Feb. 7, 1927, in Lawrenceburg, Tenn., to Arley and Mary Ellen Butler Woodham. She and Glen Harper were married April 16, 1960, and would have celebrated their 48th anniversary this April.

Deanie worked nearly 30 years in the airline manufacturing industry. In 1952 she started her career at Curtis Wright, a former small airline manufacturer in St. Louis that was purchased by McDonnell. Divisions she worked in included sheet metal, assembly, the "white room" for Mercury and Gemini space aviation, and her favorite division, composites. She retired from McDonnell Douglas in 1982 due to health concerns.

Deanie was a current member of the Church of the Nazarene in Jackson. She was a former member of the Church of the Nazarene in Florissant, Mo., and Church of the Nazarene in Overland, Mo., where she taught children's Sunday school, sang in the choir and was active in the bus ministry.

Survivors include her husband, Glen, of Jackson; a daughter, Karen DuBois, who is currently doing mission work in Uzbekistan; a son-in-law, the Rev. Kenneth Harper of Jackson; a grandson, the Rev. Steven C. Harper, wife Robin and their children, Austin and Grant Harper, all of Chester, Va.; two sisters, Hazel (James) Redman of Wood River, Ill., Helen (Arthur) Davis of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; and a brother, Jimmy (Evelyn) Woodham of Qulin, Mo.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara Harper (Oct. 31, 2000), parents, four brothers and four sisters.

Friends may call Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m. at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

The funeral will be Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Kenneth Harper officiating. A graveside committal service will be held Monday at 2:30 p.m. at Park Lawn Cemetery on Lemay Ferry Road in St. Louis.

Memorials may be made to the Church of the Nazarene in Jackson.

A guest book, condolence messages and memorial video are available online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.