Condolences to Dana Clayton, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, whose father, Odie B. Curlee, age 75, of Newland, NC passed away Thursday, March 7 in Evansville. 

Friends may visit with the family from 10:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. on Monday, March 11 at the Church of the Harvest, 7825 Oak Hill Road, Evansville, IN 47725.  In keeping things "Odie" style, there will be a short and informal celebration of his life at 1:00 P.M. 

Mr. Curlee was born in Louisville, KY and after retiring from General Electric, he and his wife, lived in Vero Beach, FL before finally moving to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.  He was a member of Zion Community Church, a Kentucky Colonel and veteran of the United States Navy. Odie enjoyed playing the guitar, woodworking, boating, fishing and hearing the laughter of his family.

Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Ruth (Bryant) Curlee; daughter and son-in-law, Dana and Randy Clayton of Evansville; grandchildren, Nick Clayton of Indianapolis and Lindsey Clayton of Evansville.  He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, who fondly referred to Odie as "Unc".

Preceding him in death were his parents, Hurley and Annzella (Cox) Curlee; brother, Allen Curlee of Louisville and his special furry friend, Midnight.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Vista Care Hospice, 323 Metro Ave, Evansville, IN 47715.

Pierre Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Former Purple Aces women’s soccer great Krissy Meek-Engelbrecht set some firsts for the University of Evansville with her induction into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame on Friday morning.

Meek-Engelbrecht became the fourth person from UE to be inducted, joining Arad McCutchan, Jim Byers and Fred Schmalz on the list.  She is the first UE student-athlete to earn the honor along with the first female with Evansville ties. 

Adding to the accomplishment is that she is the first women’s soccer player, regardless of school affiliation, to be enshrined.

“I am very humbled to be in this class and to represent the University of Evansville in the Hall of Fame,” Meek-Engelbrecht said.  “The credit for this award goes to my teammates, without them, I would not be here today.”

The only three-time MVC Player of the Year in MVC soccer history (men’s or women’s), she led the Aces to regular-season conference titles in 1997, 1998 and 1999 while winning the tournament in each of her for years, ranging from 1996 through 1999.  To this day, she ranks second in the MVC in career goals (45) and total points (106).

Following her playing career, she assisted former Aces coach Mick Lyon at UE where the led the Aces to the conference championship in 2001.  She is currently in her 10th season as the head coach at the University of Southern Indiana where she was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2010.

Joining her in this year’s class were Bob Portman (Creighton), Jim Bain (former referee), Molly O’Brien (UNI), Nancy Stefani (Drake) and former major leaguer Darren Dreifort (Wichita State).

A trip to Jonesboro, Ark. Awaits the University of Evansville women’s tennis team as they travel to face Arkansas State on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Aces are in search of their seventh win of the season after falling earlier this week to UNC Wilmington.  UE squared off against the Seahawks in Indianapolis, falling by a 5-0 final.

Sophomore Marketa Trousilova is still undefeated as the two-time MVC Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week is 8-0 in the spring while going 7-2 in doubles.  Her doubles partner, Natasha James, has also had a stellar beginning to the spring, going 6-3 in her first nine singles matches.

Arkansas State enters Saturday’s match with a 2-5 mark and have fallen in their last four outings.  Last time out on Sunday, ASU was defeated by a 6-1 final at Lamar.

After facing the Red Wolves, Evansville will have nearly a month to prepare for MVC paly, which begins with three matches in a row at home.  The Aces face Southern Illinois on April 3 before playing host to Bradley on the 6th and Illinois State a day later.