Odis C. Proffitt, Jr.

Odis C Proffitt, Jr was born April 4, 1932, at his family’s home on Freetown Emberton Rd in Gamaliel. He was the youngest son of Odis Proffitt, Sr and Roxie (England) Proffitt. Mr. Proffitt, 93, passed away on December 12, 2025, at his home surrounded by family that loved him. Odis leaves behind a son and daughter-in-law Tim and Dorothy Proffitt of Gamaliel; and two daughters and son-in-laws, Treva and Ed Brockman of Lebanon Junction, Kentucky and Renea and Martin Brown of Gamaliel. He also leaves behind his grandchildren Brittney Baker, Spencer Proffitt, Reagan Proffitt and McKinley Brown; as well as Wesley Anderson and Brittany Netherton. In addition to his grandchildren, he leaves behind several great-grandchildren and nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great nephews that love and cherished him.

Mr. Proffitt leaves behind a long legacy of service work in every community he has lived in. As a boy, he attended Gamaliel School, where to hear him say it, he walked three miles one way each day to attend. When he was in the 6th grade, his father pulled him from school to work their farm, against his will. Mr. Proffitt always loved learning new things. As a young adult, he lived in Louisville and worked as a laborer at Co Hart and later at Senn’s Body Shop. It was at Senn’s that he found his love for fixing and creating art with automobiles. He moved back to Gamaliel in 1976 to found Proffitt’s Body Shop, which is still being ran and operated today by his son Tim. Mr. Proffitt could be found most days admiring his son’s work in the body shop as he was so proud that Tim had continued to run the body shop even after he had retired. Mr. Proffitt had been employed by the Monroe County Board of Education as a custodian of the Old High School for several years in the late 1990’s. While under their employment, he went back to school and obtained his High School GED while in his late 60’s thru the Adult Education Program.

When Mr. Proffitt was not in the shop, he was usually watching sports. Mr. Proffitt discovered his love for sports after his oldest daughter Treva came home asking to be a cheerleader for Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Louisville. After watching her cheer in the first football game, he never missed another. He volunteered at the Optimist Club in Louisville coaching his son Tim in basketball. It was there where he met a young Denny Crumm and became a die-hard Louisville Cardinal fan. Later he would become the director of Monroe County Girls Little League Program from the early 1990’s to 2000. He never missed a game his daughter Renea played in; he was even wheeled into Barren County High School in a wheelchair following surgery to watch her play. When she played for St Catherine’s college he continued to attend their games after she was forced to red shirt her freshman year following a knee injury jury. One thing could never be questioned; he loved his children and loved watching them doing the things that brought them joy.

Mr. Proffitt served as the President of Gamaliel Lions Club for several years and help build the Gamliel Lions Club building on Fountain Run Rd in Gamaliel. He helped organize and run truck pulls and softball tournaments over years as a Lion’s Club Member. He was also a member of Indian Creek Baptist Church. He helped begin the church van ministry and volunteered as the church bus driver for several years. Mr. Proffitt did not hesitate to try and share God’s love with anyone he met. He gave his testimony of faith in front of several congregations over his years.

Mr. Proffitt was not only preceded in death by his parents Odis Proffitt, Sr. and Roxie, his sisters, Moanie Proffitt, Alma (John) Dickerson, Belvia (Garnett) Pare, Marna (Arlie) Goad and Willadean (Buddy) Higgason, and his brothers Elster (Inez) Proffitt and George (Agnes) Proffitt.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 12:00 p.m. Noon on Monday, December 15, 2025, from Bartley & Sons Gamaliel Chapel, with burial to follow in the Gamaliel Cemetery. Bro. Darrell Bartley will officiate the service.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and again Monday morning after 9:00 a.m. until the service time at Noon at Bartley & Sons Gamaliel Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Gamaliel Cemetery or The Monroe County Backpack Program in memory of Mr. Proffitt.

Pallbearers: Darrell Miller, Jamie Tooley, Lewis Darrell Carter, Geoff Pare, Travis Proffitt, and Tony Harlan.

Honorary Pallbearers: Garon Pare, Garner Pare, Ray Cecil Lyon, Charles Davis, B.J. Stanley, Louis Lee Carter, Randy Williams, Dewayne Murray, Duaine Barnett, Kerry Proffitt, Jerry Goad, Gordon Goad, Bob Greer, Dr. Crabtree, Dr. Bean, Alana Foster, Wesley Anderson, Spencer Proffitt, Rodney Dickerson, Charlie Senn, and Martin Brown

Bartley & Sons Gamaliel Chapel is honored to be entrusted with the care of Mr. Proffitt and his family at this time.