Benjamin Hodges

As many of you have mentioned my brother Ben, was the king of one liners that brought laughter in everyones lives.  As life goes on and you are in a situation (good, bad, funny, sad, etc) you will find yourself thinking, "what would Ben say about this?"     I am glad that Ben was a part of my life.  He would always call me his sister and that meant the world to me.  I love and miss you with all my hear brother Ben.

Below is a poem I came accross and want to share with everyone.

“Let this Angel be a loving reminder
that someone is missing today,
Someone our hearts still hold on to,
As we travel along life’s way.
Someone who made life so special,
for all those who gather here,
Someone who won’t be forgotten,
But cherished from year to year.
And now as we pause to remember,
Let us all fondly recall,
how dearly each of us loved him,
and oh… how he loved us all!”
“Gone yet not forgotten,
Though we are now apart,
Your spirits lives within us,
Forever in our hearts”

Cousin Ben,

Gonna miss seeing you!! You had such a special way about you and I will miss your hugs! I love the memories I have with you and Ron at one of the farms when we were young. Stepping in cow pooh wasn't funny then but we sure did laugh about it later!! You and Ron taught me how to milk a cow by hand and Uncle Ron would squirt milk at the kittens....they loved it and so did I!! My sisters wouldn't let me back in the car until I washed my hands!! LOL They of course, wouldn't touch the cows!

The Hodges Family is special to me! Love and hugs to you all!

Ben, spending time with you while I was growing up were some of the best memories I ever had.  We had wild and crazy fun.  Every time I seen you, you had a wide eyed grin and were always happy.  We always seemed to make Mecosta more fun and that was hard.  I am going to miss you greatly, I am glad you have no more pain and that your at peace, love, your friend Julie :)

I am so very saddened to hear of your dad's/husbands/Bens passing. Being my first cousin and only six years older that me, we spent a lot of time on the farm because my dad helped Ronnie and Benny's dad. Many of my fondest memories came from playing with my two favorite cousins, getting into mischief, learning how to milk the cows, climbing the walnut tree, gettin' the crap scared out of us going through their hay bale tunnels in the barn, and having a blast jumping from the barn window into a great big pile of hay! Oh yeah! Never piss on an electric fence or even with long pieces of tall grass...Why, you ask? Cause it hurts!!  The best part was being able to reminisce about it all at the family reunions and get-togethers over a fatty.  I will surely miss him and I know you will miss him more. My prayers are with you all! Your second cousin, Shawnee Strayer-Tate

Uncle Ben was one of few that could always make me smile and laugh even when I was down. Thinking of his jokes and funny stories he would tell puts a smile on my face right now. I have a lot of memories of Ben one of which was how much he would rock back and forth when he was sitting.  When I was younger, probably about 12, he was bringing me back home after staying the week at his house. He was rocking away and I swear as we were driving down the road the truck was moving back and forth.  Uncle Ben you were such a loving person, I am so happy and blessed to have had you as part of my life. I will miss you. Love you.