Lois N. Hodges, age 85 of Clinton, Missouri passed away Monday, March 16, 2009 at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital, Clinton.
Funeral services will be Friday, March 20, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton, with burial in the Englewood Cemetery, Clinton. Family will receive friends Thursday, March 19, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Chapel. The family suggests contributions to the American Cancer Society which may be left in care of the funeral home or mailed to American Cancer Society, ATTN: Lois Hodges Memorial, 1900 North Providence, Suite 105, Columbia, MO 65202. Fond memories may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Lois was born October 16, 1923 in Pleasant Hill MO. She was the daughter of Lester and Georgia Bell. She had one brother, James Howard Bell, and one sister, Hazel Kessel.

She is survived by her spouse, Martin Alexander Hodges (Alex); and two sons, Mark Alexander Hodges and spouse Yvonne Hodges of Mesa, Arizona and Jefrey Lynn Hodges and spouse Jean Hodges of Clinton. She is also survived by six grandchildren; Tessa Nicole Hodges, Jason Michael Hodges, Summer Lee Hodges-Bridges and Kara Nadine Hodges, all of Los Angeles, California, and Lyndsey Anne Hodges and Kyle Martin Hodges of Columbia, Missouri.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Georgia Bell, her father, Lester Bell, her brother, James Bell, her sister, Hazel Kessel and her son, Gary Hodges.

Lois worked for civil service during World War II. She moved to Kansas City, Missouri and became a statistical typist for an accounting firm. She and her family then moved to Clinton. She was a member of Clinton United Methodist Church, where she became Church Secretary in 1959. In 1961, she was a case worker for Henry County Division of Family Services. In 1963, she was appointed as Probate and Magistrate Clerk for Henry County and served in that capacity for 17 years.

Lois was then elected Legislative Representative for the Clerks of the state of Missouri. With the sponsorship and guidance of Senator Bill Cason, they were able to get a bill passed for retirement and a yearly raise for the Clerks of Missouri. After retirement she became a salesperson for Steamatic of Mid-Missouri out of Columbia. She was then appointed City Assessor and worked in the Clinton Township tax office for a short period of time, and in 1980 she was appointed Clerk of Clinton Township.

She was a past member of the Twilight Garden Club, Clinton Cosmos Study Club and Beta Sigma Phi-Epsilon NU Chapter, where she held the positions of Secretary and President.

Lois loved to cook and wrote a cookbook full of family recipes, which she distributed to family and friends. Lois also loved to write about her childhood memories and days at the courthouse.

She will be greatly missed by family and friends.