Octa Doyle Lively

January 9, 1926 - May 20, 2022

Octa Doyle “O.D.” Lively was born in Augusta, Texas on January 9, 1926 to Annie Mae Price Lively and Tazewell Lee Lively. He graduated from Jasper High School in 1942 and joined the Navy at the age of 17. O.D served in World War II with the 3rd and 5th Fleets from 1943-46 as radarman on the destroyer, USS Uhlmann. He witnessed the signing of the Peace Treaty with Japan while aboard ship in Tokyo Bay. He attended Southern Methodist University from 1946-49 on the GI Bill of Rights where he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering. O.D. married Norma Gene Garrison in 1949, whom he met at SMU. He worked for the Jet Engine lab at Allison Division of General Motors in Indianapolis for two years. O.D. returned to Texas to be a flight test engineer for Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation in his career in charge of flight safety and accident investigation and retired from General Dynamics in 1992. O.D. was an active member of the Euless First United Methodist Church where he held many leadership positions. He taught an adult Sunday School class for many years. He is survived by Norma, his wife of 72 years; four children: Gary Lively (Phyllis), Marsha Lively (Jim Langstaff), Lisa Livelybrooks (Dean Livelybrooks), Kirk Lively (Carol); Grandchildren: Tracy Clodfelter, Nicole Wilson, Rebecca Oehlers, Sandra Lively, Zoë Livelybrooks, Jeremy Hoch, Ryan Hoch and several great grandchildren. He is survived by three brothers and a sister. The Memorial service will be Thursday, May 26 at Ash Lane United Methodist Church, 1001 W. Ash Lane, Euless at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Mobile Food Pantry through Ash Lane Methodist Church.