James E. "Jimmie" Hodges

James E. “Jimmie” Hodges, age 78, of Alvarado passed away Wednesday, October 30, 2013. Funeral services will be 2:00p.m., Friday, November 1, 2013 at Scott’s Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00p.m., Thursday, October 31, 2013 at the funeral home. Jimmie was born on September 19, 1935 in Gatesville to the late George R. and Mary McNutt Hodges. He graduated from Gatesville High School in 1954, and then attended Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas. He had a great love of horses and rodeos. While in high school, he started roping and steer dogging, which continued on while at Sul Ross University, competing in many rodeos across Texas. Jimmie married Sue McCarver on March 8, 1957. They made their home in Gatesville for a number of years, and then moved to Arlington where Jimmie went to work for Bell Helicopter. In 1977, he went back to his passion of training race horses at Hodges Racing Stables, and went to the winners circle numerous times. Jimmie and Sue had three children, Jamie Hodges, Jodie Hodges, and Juli Allison, his three J’s. He also had four granddaughters, Mackenzie Hodges, Sydnee Allison, Hannah Hodges, and Haley Hodges. Jimmie called them his four grandgirls, and they called him their Big Daddy. He was preceded in death by his parents, George R. and Mary Hodges; brother, George R. Hodges, Jr.; and sister, Lula Francis Helfers. Jimmie is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sue Hodges; sons, Jamie Hodges and Jodie Hodges; daughter, Juli Hodges Allison; grandchildren, Mackenzie Hodges, Sydnee Allison, Hannah Hodges, and Haley Hodges; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. They all will miss him greatly.