Odus Lester Morris

Narrative:

      Odus Lester Morris was born on 6 Jan 1916 in Shenandoah, Page Co., Iowa.^8,9,10
     His mother died on 18 Oct 1918, when Odus was 2 years old.^24,25,26
     After his mother's death Odus was taken to Oklahoma to live with his mother's parents, Charles Lafett McNatt and Elizabeth Jane Spurlock. He appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Stillwell, Adair Co., Oklahoma, in the household of his mother's parents.⁹ Odus appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Stilwell, Adair Co., Oklahoma, in the household of his mother's parents.²⁷

His First Marriage --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Odus married first Florence Juanita Guffey, daughter of Stokley Richard Guffey and Rena Page, on 11 Sep 1937 in Stilwell, Adair Co., Oklahoma, with Rev. J. C. Worley offciating.^11,12,13
     Odus and Florence appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Benton Co., Washington, on Euclid Rd., enumerated 9 Apr 1940, reporting they were renting their home, for $5 per month. He reported he had been living in Elmira, New York in 1935, which is where his father was believed to be living. She reported she had been living in rural Oklahoma in 1935. Their daughter Patsy was listed as living with them.¹²
     He was a laborer for the W.P.A. in 1940, reporting that he had worked 26 hours the last week of March, and 32 weeks the prior year, earning $312.¹² He registered for the draft for World War II on 16 Oct 1940, while living at Prosser, Benton Co., Washington, reporting he was employed by a W. P. A. Project.³
     Odus was drafted as a private in the U.S. Army, entering the service 15 Nov 1944, in Spokane, Washington. He listed his residence as Madera Co., California, where he was involved in farming.²⁸

A Difficult Time After the War --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Odus was arrested 22 Feb 1947 in Okanogan Co., Washington, and charged with assult. He was sentenced to 30 days in county jail, suspended on good behavior. No record of how long he spent in jail has been found.²⁹
     Odus and Florence moved to Tacoma, Washington. In 1949 they were living at 248 Shelton, while he was a student.³⁰
     In Apr 1949 Odus was arrested in Spokane for being drunk on a public highway. He was fined $7, while his two companions, Alex Dukek and Nellie Laisure, forfeited $10 bonds by failing to appear.³¹
     A letter Odus wrote to the editor of a Tacoma newspaper was published 17 Mar 1950. In it he disputed the claims of welfare abuse reported the previous Sunday in an article quoting remarks by several state legislators. He objected to characterization of luxury living by welfare recipients. He said he was sick, unable to work, and on general assistance. As a father with three children he said he had never received more than $105 per month, plus a $15 per month disability payment from the Army.³²
     Odus and Florence appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Tacoma, Pierce Co., Washington, at 1701 Market St., enumerated 14 Apr 1950, reporting they lived in a home that was not on a farm and had lived in a different house in the same county the year before. Their three children were listed as living with them.³³
     Odus reported in the 1950 census that he and his wife were fruit pickers, working on private farms and they had not worked the prior week but were looking for work.³³
     Odus and Florence were divorced, apparently before 1951. He claimed when he remarried he had been divorced in Yakima, Washington, in 1948, but they appeared together in the 1950 census reporting they were married.^14,15

A Brief Second Marriage --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Odus married second Norma Natalia Peterson, daughter of August Peterson and Anna McDonald, on 23 May 1953 in Stevenson, Skamania Co., Washington, with Ruth G. Miles, justice of the peace, officiating. She had previously been married to Clarence Wierenga, Jack W. Ward, Harold Dewain Wilcox and Fred W. Chambers.^16,17
     At the time of his second marriage he was a welder, in Portland, Oregon.³⁴
     Odus moved to Grandview, Washington, by 1955.³⁵
     Norma sued Odus for divorce in Multnomah Co., Oregon, on grounds of cruel and inhuman treatment. He did not contest the suit, and her divorce was granted 7 Oct 1955.¹⁸

A Move to California --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Odus moved to California by 1959.³⁶
     Odus married third Dorothy Marie Davis, daughter of Lewis J. Davis and Lottie E. Campbell, on 18 Aug 1959 in Los Angeles Co., California. She had previously been married to Albert Andrew Frank Fink.¹⁹
     Odus adopted Dorothy's four children after their marriage.^37,38,39
     He worked for the Art Metal Manufacturing Company, where he was a member of the Iron Workers Union.⁴⁰

Coming to a Violent End --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     On Saturday evening, Odus went to Lukes Tavern at 778 E, Second St., Pomona, California. While there he was badly beaten and left behind the tavern for several hours before authorities were called. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Investigating officers were told he had been insulting to several women customers and challenged some of the men to a fight. Stanford C. Wheat, who lived in a trailer park on the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and felonious assault.⁴¹
     Odus' wife Dorothy, a nurse, was working at the emergency room the night he was brought there, and he was so badly injured that she didn't recognize him until his face had been cleaned. He remained in a comma most of the time until his death days later.⁴²
     Odus died on 31 Oct 1962 in Pomona, Los Angeles Co., California, at age 46.^20,21,22 He was buried on 10 Nov 1962 in Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California.²³
     Stanford Wheat was released when the district attorney's office refused to issue a complaint. But he and his wife, Delores Mikel Wheat, were arrested 9 Nov 1962 at the same bar after an anonymous telephone tip, and held on suspicion of murder.⁴³ Both were charged with manslaughter, but the charge against the husband was dropped. According to testimony in the case Mrs. Wheat, a 36-year-old carnival worker, had dragged Odus by his shirtfront with his head bouncing four to six inches off the pavement. He died of a skull fracture. She was ruled guilty of misdemeanor assult and fined $200 on 23 Apr 1963.⁴⁴