Lawrence O'Donnell, Jr.

Larry was born in Houston on the 10th of October 1935, to Lawrence O’Donnell, Sr. and Martha Fisher O’Donnell. He spent his entire life in Houston, attending St. Anne Elementary and Middle Schools, then continuing on to St. Thomas High School, where he was quarterback of the football team. Larry went on to graduate with a BA in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 1959. There he was an active member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity with many of his fraternity brothers becoming life-long friends.

After graduating from college, Larry joined Suburban Homes, the family’s real estate development and construction business started by his father. Suburban Homes grew to be one of the largest home builders in Houston in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Larry began his career developing and building thousands of homes in Briargrove, High Meadows, Briargrove Park, and Walnut Bend. In the early 1970’s, as a member of Greater Houston Builders Association, he turned his focus to becoming one of the premier designers and builders of custom homes in the Memorial, Tanglewood, and River Oaks areas of Houston. A dream he successfully achieved.

Larry met the love of his life and his wife of over 67 years, Annell Haggart O’Donnell, in the fall of 1954. Larry saw Annell singing solo in a musical at Lamar High School and it truly was love at first sight. Larry then asked one of his friends to set him up on a date with Annell to attend the UT vs. A&M football game on Thanksgiving Day, and their love quickly blossomed. Annell and Larry were married at St. Anne Catholic Church on the 4th of August 1956. Annell was the most important person in Larry’s life, and it was clear that they were both very devoted to one another. They enjoyed family gatherings, hosting dinner parties for friends, involvement in their children’s school/sport activities, and traveling together. He and Annell were honored for their outstanding leadership in PTA by the Board of Trustees of the Spring Branch Independent School District in 1978.

Over 10 years ago, as Annell’s memory, vision, and ability to communicate slipped away, Larry’s dedication to Annell sprang into action. It broke Larry’s heart when Annell had to be placed in a memory care facility, and yet he continued to drive to see her each day, read to her, play music for her, while always holding her hand. Larry was the epitome of a loving and caring husband to his wife and lived out his marriage covenant of “until death do us part” with tremendous grace, demonstrating unconditional love to the end of Annell’s life, passing just two months ago. Larry served as a great role model for his children and grandchildren exemplifying what devotion and everlasting love for your spouse truly looks like.

Larry was also a very devoted father, and nothing was more important to him than spending time with his wife and children. Larry served as head coach on his two sons’ baseball teams, and was always present for all his children’s football, baseball, swimming, gymnastics, tennis, and other sporting events.

Larry had a real passion for golf, where he won his flight at River Oaks Country Club several times and served as the organizer for the early-birds golf play on Saturday mornings for many years (an event that continues today). He also had a passion for sailboat racing in Galveston Bay. Larry and his racing crew (consisting of Larry III, his brother Jerry, and other friends) consistently placed in the top three at various sailing regattas, and won the annual championship trophy at Houston Yacht Club several years in the 1960’s. The family enjoyed many years of sailing together at Houston Yacht Club, and later from the family’s Galveston Bay House, Cloud Point. Larry and Annell built and decorated this home so that family and friends could come and spend many fun-filled weekends together.

Larry enjoyed hunting and anything outdoors. Some of the family’s fondest memories are of times together at the family’s Seco Springs Ranch in the Texas Hill Country near Utopia and Tarpley, Texas. He was also a collector of antique cars, an avid reader of Nicholas Sparks novels, and he had an appreciation for all genres of music. Larry would rather have fixed something himself than pay someone to repair it. He was very inquisitive, and loved to take things apart when they broke to learn how they worked, and then fix it himself. Larry was an incredible mechanic, carpenter, welder and engineer, and there wasn’t anything that he could not build or fix. The family is confident that Jesus is excited to have Larry, the carpenter and fix-it man, join Him in heaven!

Larry and Annell loved to travel. They were blessed to have the opportunity to travel all over the world and would bring back lots of photos and stories from all the places they visited and about the new friendships they had made. They also enjoyed traveling with the family. From the earliest that Larry III, Laurie, Randy, and Shannon can remember, the entire family loaded into the station wagon right after Christmas to make the long drive from Houston to Aspen, Colorado to snow ski, or in the summers made the drive to Sea Island, Georgia. The family also spent many summers together at the family cottage on the Comal River in New Braunfels. To Larry, time with the family was what he cherished most. He would reminisce about those times with his family until his death.

Larry was a man of tremendous integrity. Larry had many friends and customers, who would all say that Larry lived his life on the principals of faith in God first, family second, integrity, honesty, hard work, and perseverance. He taught his children to do the same, always stressing the importance of integrity, honoring their word, putting others ahead of oneself, and most of all, to have faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ. His children were all engrained with tremendous work ethic and doing the right thing, traits learned from their father. Larry always taught the importance of doing a job right with no shortcuts, and that the homes he built were a reflection of his family’s reputation, so he wanted things done right. He went out of his way to make sure his customers were satisfied, and never took advantage of them when they asked for changes along the way. He was always there to help others when he could.

Annell and Larry were long time members of Saraband Dance Club, Terpsichore Dance Club, Knights of Momus Krewe in Galveston, Houston Yacht Club, and River Oaks Country Club. Together with a close couple of friends, they were the founding Board of Directors of the Holiday Tradition Dance Club, which is still in existence today, bringing families together for a Christmas holiday dance. Larry and Annell were regular attendees at St. Anne, St. Theresa, and St. Michael Catholic Churches in Houston, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Galveston over the years (and they never missed church, even during their travels). Larry was a devoted servant of God and looked forward to one day joining Jesus in heaven, not because of what Larry had done while alive, but solely based on his faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

The O’Donnell Family would like to acknowledge Jeffery Pajarillaga, Edgar Solamillo, and Irma Pineda for their aid and care for Larry as his health began to fail him. Their support enabled Larry to live in comfort and with dignity in his final years. These caretakers will certainly have a special place in heaven, and the O’Donnell family will be forever grateful for their love and care.

Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence O’Donnell Sr. and Martha Fisher O’Donnell; and his loving wife of over 67 years, Annell Haggart O’Donnell.

He is survived by his children and their spouses: Lawrence O’Donnell III and his wife Dare, Laurie Ann O’Donnell Tyler and her husband Paul, Duncan Randall O’Donnell and his wife Kelly, and Shannon O’Donnell Kroger and her husband Richard; eleven grandchildren, Linley O’Donnell, Lawrence O’Donnell IV and his wife Christina, Lauren Ludwick and her husband Landon, Malorie Lytal and her husband Wade, Courtney Marshburn and her husband Matt, McKenna Bradley and her husband James, Brittany Galtney, Edward “Jeb” Galtney, Jr. and his wife Jessie, Nicholas Kroger, Kellen Kroger, and Cameron Kroger; and his eight great-grandchildren, Lyndon Ludwick, Lawson Ludwick, Lowery Ludwick, Kellyanne Lytal, Emmalynn Lytal, Poppy Marshburn, Ollie Marshburn, and Lawrence Reeves O’Donnell. He is also survived by his sister, Catherine O’Donnell Cutrer Holland; and his brothers, William S. O’Donnell, Sr., Gerald E. O’Donnell, and Kenneth R. O’Donnell, Sr.

A Memorial Mass and celebration of Larry’s life is to be offered at eleven o'clock in the morning on Thursday, the 21st of December, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road, in Houston. Virtual attendance may be accessed by selecting the “Join Livestream” icon in the service information section.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the nearby Parish Life Center.

Prior to mass, the family will gather for a private interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Lawrence O’Donnell III, Duncan Randall O’Donnell, Paul Wayne Tyler, Richard Caple Kroger, Lawrence O’Donnell IV, Edward “Jeb” Galtney, Jr., and Nicholas Alexander Kroger.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Larry's name be directed to The Brookwood Community, 1752 FM 1489, Brookshire, TX, 77423 (or simply select the link below under "Donations" or to the charity of one’s choice.

We invite you to take a few moments to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with his family by selecting the “Add a Memory” icon below.