Joby Dale Odefey left his earthly body on April 19, 2025 after a short battle with cholangial carcinoma (bile duct cancer).  And true to his nature, he avoided celebrating a traditional holiday (Easter) and his birthday.  Joby was born on April 21, 1962 to Nancy Parker and the late Dale Odefey in Dubuque, Iowa, but was raised in his youth in Portland, Michigan where his dad fostered his love for motorcross and dirt track racing.  Before his junior year in high school, his family relocated to Victoria, Texas where he graduated from Victoria High School in 1980.  He married his high school sweetheart, Karen Scherer and they had two children, Sara and Cory.  While raising his young family, he worked at what is now Seadrift Coke for many years, while still exercising his mechanically inclined talents in his spare time.  You could see him working on cars every weekend.  After Joby and Karen parted ways, he relocated to Aquilla, Texas outside of Waco to become a ranch foreman and live on a ranch owned by Skip and Kathy Harless, whom he cared for like family.  Words cannot express his love for ranch life.  He loved moving dirt and watching his “yard art” everyday.  You would never see him without his trusted sidekick, Gracie, his beautiful and sweet Doberman Pinscher.  His affinity for motorsports continued as he made frequent trips to the dirt track and attended many Harley rallies and loved an occasional trip to the Dallas Motor Speedway to watch his beloved NASCAR.    In the last five years of his life, he found love with his girlfriend, Shelia Walts and together they also attended Jeep rallies.  In January of this year, he received the devastating diagnosis.  Anytime you asked him, he was going to “fight” and “beat” this illness.  But after many health setbacks, it wasn’t meant to be and he came home with his brother Jamie to be around family.  In just a few short days, Hospice of South Texas was involved, and after a day, he was admitted to the Dornberg Center of Compassion where he was given superior care.  Words cannot express how thankful the family is to Hospice of South Texas.  Joby is survived by his mother, Nancy Pfeifer (Duane) of Port Lavaca, daughter Sara Odefey Brown (Christopher) of Francitas, son Cory Odefey (Cindy) of Wharton, Texas, Girlfriend, Shelia Walts of Aquilla, brother Jamie Odefey (Anne Marie) of Port Lavaca, sister Rhonda Odefey of Port Lavaca, sister Kari Yeager (Josh) of Blessing and sister Jordan Pfeifer of Port Lavaca; grandchildren Jade, Chris and Taylor Odefey and Elizabeth and Preston Brown and many nieces and nephews and his canine companions, Gracie and Maggie.  His ashes will be spread at the ranch at a later date.  Donations are requested and appreciated to be made to Hospice of South Texas, Inc., a nonprofit organization.  You may donate at www.hospice-vic.org or send donations to 605 E. Locust, Victoria, Texas. 77901.