Horace O'dale Gummelt

Horace O’dale Gummelt, age 79, of Gatesville, passed away Thursday, September 20, 2018 at Coryell Memorial Hospital after a long fight with C.O.P.D.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at Scott’s Funeral Home with burial following at Hurst Ranch Cemetery near Star, TX.  Visitation will be an hour prior to the service. O’dale was born on August 19, 1939 to the late OB and Retta Gay Gummelt in Star, Texas. In high school, he worked for his father in Midland as a brick mason. O’dale married Donna Altum Key on October 8, 1982 in Gatesville. They were approaching 36 years of marriage. O’dale was a long time brick mason and was at his happiest when he was doing the work he so loved. He continued to work until his health forced him to hang up his trowel. One of his favorite hobbies was gardening and he enjoyed and looked forward to taking care of his garden every year. He had a green thumb and could grow veggies with the best of them. He loved to donate them to his friends and family for their enjoyment. He dearly loved watching college football and was a diehard Texas Longhorn fan. He sure hated if he had to miss one of the Texas games. He was burnt orange all the way. O’dale was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Yvonne Meissner and husband, Ray; son-in-law, Larry O’Neal, brother, Gary Odean Gummelt; sons, Doug and Brad Key; a dear grandson, Brandon Anderson; mother-in-law, Zela Altum to whom he was very close; brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Audrey Altum, and his grandparents. O’dale is survived by his wife, Donna Gummelt; daughters, Vicky Turner and husband, Todd, Sheila Salter and husband, Chuck, Shanda O’Neal and Mariah and Erica Key whom he raised as his own, sons, Curtis Key, Chad Key, Randy Key and his wife, Lisa; brothers, Sam Gummelt, June Gummelt and wife, Ellen Ann; sister, Janice Melde and husband, Lloyd; brother and sister-in-law, Danny Altum and wife, Sandra; aunts, Dood Tyson, Marie Gummelt, Athylene McCasland and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins all of which he loved so dearly.