Obituary of Clara Hodgson

Clara Mae (Petty) Hodgson, age 97, long-time resident of Karval passed away Friday September 14, 2007 at the Heritage Club Nursing Care Facility in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Clara was born October 1, 1909 to Urbane (Tague) & Arthur Petty in Rutledge, Missouri. Clara was united in marriage to Leslie R. Hodgson January 2, 1936 in Rocky Ford, Colorado. They had four children; Anna Mae, Ray, Arleta and Velda. In 1916, at the age of 7, Clara moved with her parents and 4 siblings from Missouri to a homestead in the Karval area. She learned all about farming and ranching growing up and embraced the ranch life later with her husband. Even though it was hard, she enjoyed all aspects of life on the ranch, especially riding horses and raising Herefords. Clara also enjoyed gardening, reading and quilting. All her children, grandchildren, and many friends, neighbors, and other relatives have quilts made by Clara. Several of these quilts won ribbons at the Lincoln County and State fairs. Clara was more then just a homemaker, in raising four children she made sure her family was first and foremost. Clara loved being around family and especially spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Church was very important to Clara as she was a member of the Karval Church of the Nazarene and a long-time member of the Blue Cliff Missionary Women’s group where they would help fund missionary work, put on plays and coordinate other functions for the church and community. Clara was a huge part of the community that surrounded her and will be deeply missed by all. Clara was preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Urbane Petty, her husband Leslie, and three sisters Eliza Holmes, Phoebe Hall and Verona King. She is survived by four children; Anna Mae (Don) Ardrey of Warsaw, MO, Ray Hodgson of Yoder, CO, Arleta (Ray) Wallden of Parker, CO, Velda (Rick) Baack of Ogallala, NE. Also surviving Clara are six grandchildren; Kerry Ardrey, Renee Stearns, Heather Hodgson, Sara Wallden, Amanda and Justin Baack and three great-grandchildren; Kyle, Kevin, and Krista Stearns; one brother Arthur (Nadine) Petty of Dodge City, KS, many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and neighbors. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday September 20th, 2007 at the Karval Church of the Nazarene. Visitation will be held at 10:30A.M. prior to the service with burial to follow at the Bucklen Cemetery, in Karval Colorado. Memorials may be made to the Karval Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Fund P.O. 35 Karval, Colorado 80823.