Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Forum News => The Doug Pavlichek Memorial Site => Topic started by: Phonesrfun on September 29, 2015, 06:53:20 PM

Title: Odis LeVrier
Post by: Phonesrfun on September 29, 2015, 06:53:20 PM
Stve Hilsz recently posted in the TCI and ATCA list serves that Odis had a bad stroke a couple weeks ago and is now in hospice care. 

Many of us here bought parts and cords from Odis under his trade name House of Telephones.  Odis retired a few years ago and sold the cord business to Don Woodbury at Oldphoneworks.com

Odis has been part of the phone collecting community for many years.

Title: Re: Odis LeVrier
Post by: Doug Rose on September 29, 2015, 08:12:22 PM
Very sad...Odis is a wonderful person and did a lot for our hobby. Always a pleasure to deal with.....I hope the end is peaceful for a very gentle man....Doug
Title: Re: Odis LeVrier
Post by: Dennis Markham on September 29, 2015, 08:39:28 PM
That is sad news.  I always enjoyed talking to Odis on the phone when I'd call to order cords.  He was always a gentleman and treated me like he'd known me forever.
Title: Re: Odis LeVrier
Post by: Phonesrfun on September 29, 2015, 09:34:02 PM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on September 29, 2015, 08:39:28 PM
That is sad news.  I always enjoyed talking to Odis on the phone when I'd call to order cords.  He was always a gentleman and treated me like he'd known me forever.

I had the same experience.  I even got a package of "rattlesnake eggs" once!

Title: Re: Odis LeVrier
Post by: mentalstampede on September 30, 2015, 01:43:32 AM
I sure hate to hear that. He sure was nice when I'd call him to order.
Title: Re: Odis LeVrier
Post by: DavePEI on September 30, 2015, 08:20:45 AM
Odis's snake eggs were a staple for first time customers. When I got my first cord from him, out fell a small bumpy envelope marked "Snake Eggs". When opened a spring driven device made a sound like a rattle snake, guaranteed to make a fellow jump - what a way to remember our first time dealing with him. He is a good man, and I wish him the very speediest of recoveries!

Dave
Title: Re: Odis LeVrier
Post by: HarrySmith on October 01, 2015, 09:20:08 PM
I already replied on the list with my condolences and well wishes. Absolutely everyone is mentioning the "snake eggs", anyone got a picture? I am curious.
Title: Re: Odis LeVrier
Post by: Phonesrfun on October 01, 2015, 09:55:25 PM
Harry:

Google the words:

Rattlesnake eggs gag

and you will find some on sale on ebay.  It is a rubber-band wound up in a small envelope that when you open the envelope flap, it expands the envelope just enough to let the rubber band unwind within the envelope which creates the rattling sound.  To the unsuspecting, the picture of the rattlesnake and the words rattlesnake eggs, causes one to be very curious and cautious while opening the envelope.  When it goes off, it's pretty hilarious, if you don't know what's coming.
Title: Re: Odis LeVrier
Post by: paul-f on October 01, 2015, 10:25:18 PM
There are also numerous Youtube videos showing reactions...

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnKNTF8nums (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnKNTF8nums)
Title: Re: Odis LeVrier
Post by: Russ Kirk on October 01, 2015, 11:01:43 PM
I had one of those 40+ years ago!
Title: Re: Odis LeVrier
Post by: Phonesrfun on October 03, 2015, 09:50:39 PM
Sadly, and update.  I am posting a notice that Gary Goff posted in the listserves.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



It is with great sadness that I inform all of you that  Odis passed away yesterday, October 2nd, as the result of a stroke he sustained two weeks ago.  He was 89.

TCI will have a short Obit in the October issue of SingingWires and we will refer you to our feature story about Odis in the December, 2009 issue of SingingWires.

Odis has lived the past four or five years in an assisted care facility In San Angelo, Texas, near his family.  One of his daughters, Yvonne Ezell is in charge of his affairs and may be contacted at yezell@suddenlink.net 

Gary Goff
Title: Re: Odis LeVrier
Post by: DavePEI on February 01, 2016, 06:40:04 AM
 First, there were the rattlesnake eggs, and then the ubiquitous bullpoop bag! Rest in Peace, Odis! We won't forget you. I came across these today as I went through some old documents! The device was wound up before being placed in the egg envelope, so that i sprang to life rattling the bag when one opened it Don Woodbury's OldPhoneWorks bought House of Telephones when Odis retired and now manufactures these cords on the machines Odis used. http://www.houseoftelephones.com/ (http://www.houseoftelephones.com/). ( dead link 04-08-22 )