George Hodges

A memorial service for Rev. George Ray Hodges , 89, will be held at 11:00 am Friday, April 9, 2010, at Winter Memorial Presbyterian Church with Clark Vestal of 1st Avenue Presbyterian Church in Denver, CO, officiating.
Rev. Hodges died April 2, 2010 at Central Wyoming Hospice.
He was born July 9, 1920, in Denison, TX, the son of Dr. James S. Hodges & Mabel Swim Hodges.
He graduated High School in Denison, TX, attended College in Austin, TX, and followed in his father's footsteps, graduating as a Presbyterian minister from seminary at McCormick Theological School in 1947, where he met his wife and best friend, Mary Cathleen Randall Hodges.
They married in Scottsbluff, NE., on May 21, 1947.
Rev. Hodges ministered in many churches throughout Texas, Nebraska & California, and received his masters from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1963. He also ministered in Casper and Evanston, WY, retiring in 1983 to Casper.
He was a member of Winter Memorial Presbyterian Church in Casper and past member of the Wyoming Presbytery.
He joined the Mason's Lodge #4 in Evanston, Wyo. in 1980 and transferred his membership to Casper's Independence Rock Lodge #56 in 1991, where he served in many offices, including Master and Secretary. In 1998-99, he was the Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Wyoming. He also belonged to the York Rite body and was a member of the Red Cross of Constantine and Knight York Cross of Honor.
He loved music, playing the organ, piano, and dulcimer, and singing in the church choirs.
He had an uncanny ability to make even strangers feel like family and life-long friends. He would literally give the shirt off his back to someone in need.
Survivors include his son, Randy (wife Becky) Hodges of Casper; daughter, Cathy Smith of Layton, UT; 3 grandson's, Jeremy (wife Sara) Hodges of Rosenberg, TX, Jacob Hodges of Casper, and Zac Smith of Layton, UT; 2 granddaughters, Jereca Hodges Lutz (husband Jason) of Casper and Nicole Smith of Layton, UT; and 1 great grandson, Camden, who was the light of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Thomas Hodges, and his beloved wife Mary.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central Wyoming Hospice Program, 319 S. Wilson, Casper, WY 82601.
Cremation has taken place under the direction of Newcomer Family Funeral Home.