Horace Grady Hodge

Our Pop, Horace Grady Hodge, born August 21,1939 in Red Rock, Texas, to Horace Greely and Lucy Mason Hodge, passed away at home surrounded by loved ones January 9, 2026. He was 86 years old.

Pop grew up in Lee County and Bastrop County, Elgin TX, areas. Around 1962 he moved to Austin, TX, and then purchased a small farm and moved back to Elgin, TX in 1968, where he remained.

Pop had a love for hunting that began when he was a young boy that included bringing home squirrels and frogs for his momma to fry up for supper. He found a love of running dogs into the night chasing coyotes, developing many lifetime friendships with others that had the same love of hunting. The stories that were told around those campfires! Every so often, through the years, some of his kids and grandkids got to join in on the fun.

Pop attended schools in Elgin, TX. He earned his GED in 1986, along with his daughter Keri. He would brag over the years, about earning a higher score than she did, but she would remind him every time that he did much better than her because he actually lived the History part.

Pop married his first love, Nita Helton Hodge, in 1960. They had five children together, Janis, Mike, Lori, Keri and Karen. They made their life together on a small farm in Elgin, TX, until her death in 1981.

He married the second love of his life, Gail Doty, in 1988. The two of them made their life together in Elgin, TX. He would joke about how they met, she was a real estate agent in MO where he purchased a small farm. He liked to tell people, she fell so hard for him, as he was leaving, there she was in his rearview mirror, she followed him all the way back to Texas and married him. Pop has said many times he’s not sure how he was so lucky to not only have had one amazing woman in his life to love him, but two.

Pop worked at SouthSide Meat Market, the University of Texas, and a few other jobs, until deciding on his career with the Austin Police Department. Pop graduated from the Austin Police Academy, 25th session in 1962, and after 27 years of service retired in 1989 as a Senior Sgt.

He was a published author, having penned articles about the art of listening to dogs bark in pursuit of a good hunt, for The Hunter’s Horn, South Texas Wolf Hunters Association, of which he was a long-time member and judge at their annual field trips. He was also quite the poet to family and friends. His birthday poems will be missed.

He was a farmer, cattleman, hunter, iron worker, store clerk, janitor, police officer, crossword puzzle fanatic, poet, avid reader, and junk yard dealer. But most importantly, he was our Pop. Our Dad. Our GrandPop, and Great GrandPop. Our rock.

Pop wasn’t a man of many words and didn’t often show his emotions in ways most would expect, but when we told him we loved him and heard a simple ditto, with a finger point, in return, we knew exactly what he meant. Pop had his own way of showing affection. He didn’t need long speeches, hugs or kisses, all it took was a gentle tug at the ear and you knew you were loved beyond measure. It’s how all his grandbabies and great grandbabies were initiated into the family. Not many people got to see his tender side, but underneath his hard shell was a deeply loving and loyal heart that spoke volumes without saying much at all. He will be greatly missed.

Pop is survived by his wife, Gail Hodge, his son, Michael Wayne Hodge, daughter Lori Ann Suzler (Brent), daughter Keri Sue Pekar (Charles) and daughter Karen Michelle Hodge, stepson Lance Doty. Eleven grandchildren, and seventeen great-grandchildren. Sister Bettye Patton, brother Larry Hodge (Zoe Ann), sister Linda Hickman (Charles) and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife Nita Helton Hodge, parents, Horace Greely and Lucy Mason Hodge, sister Nettie West, daughter Janis Williams, and stepdaughter Valerie Cummins.

Services pending.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Austin Police Retirement Officer Association.