This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Hodges, Blanchard, Cummings, Schmerber Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/plB.2ACI/3592 Message Board Post: Kenneth Lamond Hodges April 1, 1933 - Jan. 8, 2006 Kenneth Lamond Hodges, 72, passed away at his residence in Clute on Sunday, January 8, 2006. Kenneth was born April 1, 1933, in McGregor, Texas, to Raymond and Athleen (Blanchard) Hodges, who preceded him in death. He is survived by: his wife of 48 years, Noma Lee Cummings Hodges of Clute; a stepson, Richard Schmerber and his wife, Cindi of Humble, Texas; his beloved grandsons, Scott Schmerber of Houston, Texas, James Schmerber II of Phoenix, Arizona, and John Schmerber of Houston, Texas; brother, Bobby Hodges and his wife, Beth, of Gatesville, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews; as well as many beloved friends. Kenneth served in the U.S. Marine Corps from June 1954, to June 1956. While in the Corps, he earned two letters of commendation. Upon leaving the service, he began training to become a law enforcement officer with the Bay City, Texas Police Department. He served in the Bay City, Lake Jackson, West Columbia and Clute police departments throughout the length of his career. He left the Clute Police Department to serve as city fire marshal, where he became a certified hypnotist in order to facilitate the memories of potential witnesses. He retired from the City of Clute and spent the next several years as owner-operator of the Topsy Turvy Snow Cone Stand on Main Street in Clute with his wife. He also was well known throughout the Brazosport area as the area Santa Claus, spending 30 years portraying the jolly holiday visitor. His talent as a naturally gifted storyteller kept children and adults enthralled for hours, whether he was spinning tales of reindeer games in his Santa persona, or regaling friends and relatives with stories of fishing, hunting, or amusing incidents from his police years. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until noon Friday, January 13, 2006, with a celebration of his life immediately following at Stroud Funeral Home, 538 Brazosport Blvd. N, Clute, Texas 77531, under the direction of Carnes Funeral Home of Texas City, Texas. Cremation will follow. A private family ceremony will be held in the future for the disposition of his ashes. Honorary pallbearers will be Scott Schmerber, Jimmy Schmerber, John Schmerber, David Carroll, Charlie Kilsby, Tommie Smith, Jeff Birdwell and Gary Edwards. The Bay City Tribune January 11, 2006 Matagorda County, Texas