Carrie "Caca" Vance Wellborn Oden "Cackie" Funeral services for Carrie Vance Wellborn Oden, 88, of Elysian Fields will be held at 4:00 p.m., Friday, September 7, 2012 in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home with Rev. Harold Coburn and Father Mike Maxwell officiating. Interment will follow in Elysian Fields Cemetery. A time of visitation will be held 6:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, September 6, at Downs Funeral home. Carrie Vance Wellborn Oden, lovingly known by friends and family as "Caca" or "Cackie", went to be with the Lord, Sunday, September 2, 2012. She was born February 3, 1924 to the parents of James Starnes, and Mildred Tucker Wellborn, in Elysian Fields, TX. She graduated from Elysian Fields High School in 1941 as valedictorian of her class. She attended Centenary College in Shreveport , LA. Carrie lived her life out in Elysian Fields. She married Tom Ben Oden in 1950 and they raised their three daughters, Scherry Ann Oden Earl, Carrie Tucker Oden Dudley and Catherine Elizabeth (Trina) Oden Griffith, in Elysian Fields. Carrie was a bookkeeper prior to becoming a homemaker and mother who was very dedicated to serving in her hometown community of Elysian Fields. She was a very active member of the Bethel Methodist Church and served as Treasurer for many years, up until just a few short years ago, in her 80's. She loved her church and raised her family to attend weekly and help in all capacities of church life. Carrie was also dedicated to the annual Camp Meeting held by Bethel each year, as well as being in charge of the Elysian Fields Cemetary upkeep, plots and fund. She was active in the Elysian Fields PTA during the time all three of her daughters were in school. She also served as Treasurer for the Elysian Fields Community Center and always served on the Elysian Fields Day committee, year after year until the last year it was held in 1978. Carrie was elected to the Elysian Fields School Board in 1958 and was re-elected each term until she retired from the Board, as Treasurer, in 1979, after 21 years of service! She was an avid sports fan and she was a star basketball player in Elysian Fields High School. After high school she continued her love of basketball and sports, thru her daughters' involvement in school and after their graduating, by attending the basketball , football, softball, volleyball and baseball games at Elysian Fields right up until her health kept her from physically being able to,only a year ago. In 2004, She was named "Distinguished Jacket" and recognized at the 2004 Elysian Fields Homecoming. Caca was also named "EF Yellow Jacket Fan of the Year" 1996-97. She was also an avid Dallas Maverick fan. She encouraged her daughters to be active and involved in community and instilled in them a love for Elysian Fields and all who were a part of the community. She was preceded in death by her mother and daddy, her husband of 50 years, Tom Ben Oden, her brother John S. Wellborn, her sister Frances Bell (Baw Baw) Wellborn Tiller, brother-in-law, Mouzon Tiller and son-in-law, Roy Earl. She is survived by her daughters, Scherry Ann Earl of Marshall, Carrie Tucker and Maurice "Mo" Dudley of Lake Cherokee and Catherine Elizabeth "Trina" and Daren Griffith of Longview; grandchildren, Christy Earl of Flower Mound, Dana Earl of Tyler, Carrie Brett and Tien Hoang of Redondo Beach, CA, Damen Oden Griffith and Dax Morgan Griffith, both of Longview; sister-in-law, Bess Wellborn of Elysian Fields; 11 nieces and great nieces, 9 nephew and great nephews, and many cousins and friends who loved her dearly. The family wishes to thank her caregivers who lovingly cared for her in her last few months of life and made it possible for her to be able to live at home, where she wanted to be, right up until the end of her life. Those who spent the most time with her were Lasundria Baugus, Tanya Stokes, Reshonda Clark, Tawana Hill, and Josie Listen. "Mrs. Caca was as gracious as she was witty. Her sassy southern charm could warm you from the inside out, and if you weren't careful you'd be laughing before you knew it. She was a pillar of the Elysian Fields community, Bethel Methodist Church. Here's to you Mrs. Caca, thanks for your shining example of how to share one's love and humor so generously with others." Flowers are permitted or memorials can be made to The Elysian Fields Cemetary Fund, P.O. Box 27 or Bethel United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 129 Elysian Fields, TX, 75642.