Brooksie Nell Hodges

EASTLAND – Brooksie Nell Phillips Hodges, age 87, of Eastland passed from this life Friday, February 21, 2014 in Ft. Worth, TX. Services for Brooksie will be 10:00 AM, Thursday, February 27th at the Bakker Funeral Home Chapel at 411 S. Mulberry in Eastland, TX. Visitation will be 5-7 PM on Wednesday. A graveside service will be held at 3:00 PM Thursday at Trinity Memorial Park in Big Spring, TX. Rev. Bruce Lambert will officiate.
Brooksie was born April 20, 1926 in Howard County north of Big Spring to Earl and Hazel (Gressett) Phillips. She graduated from Big Spring High School in 1943 and attended Howard County Jr. College in 1946-1947 and was a part of the very first class at the college. She attended Hardin Simmons University in Abilene and graduated with a BA and went on to receive a MA degree from West Texas State University in 1980.
Brooksie Nell Phillips married Hubert Charles Hodges June 4, 1949 in Big Spring. They were married 41 years before Charles died with cancer in 1991.
Brooksie taught elementary school for 29 years in Texas Public Schools. She held several offices in Texas Classroom Teachers Association, Texas State Teachers Association and Texas Professional Educators. She retired in May 1986 and afterwards served as Vice-President and President of Eastland County Retired Teachers. Brooksie also served on the Eastland Food Pantry Board for several years and for 8 years did volunteer work at the Eastland Memorial Hospital as a Pink Lady. She was also active in the Hospital Auxiliary for 6 yrs. and served as their Secretary and Reporter.
Brooksie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Eastland and Dumas, TX. She served as Elder for 6 years and represented her church Palo Duro Presbytery. Brooksie was also active in Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary holding offices as Commander and Treasurer.
She is survived by sons, Philip Charles Hodges of San Angelo and Dennis Jay Hodges and his wife Elain of Bella Vista, AR, grand-daughters: Liberty Hodges of San Antonio and Autumn Hodges of Neward, OH. She is also survived by nephews: Wesley Phillips, Hollis Haddock and Danny Hull, and nieces: Carol Drake, Marilyn Woodall, Linda Arnold and Vicky Cleer.
Brooksie was preceded in death by her parents Earl and Hazel, 2 brothers: Elmo and Bobby Phillips and a sister, Hazel Ruth Hull.
The family request memorials to Howard College Scholarship Fund, 1001 Birdwell Lane, Big Spring, TX 79720 or to the Cancer Research Centers.