Mary Elizabeth Severn Hodge

Mary was born May 12, 1938 in Baltimore County, Md. to Edwin and Susan Boggs Severn.
She was married to Rev. Rex Hodge on July 3, 1959.
She graduated from in Catonsville Senior High, Md. and received her undergraduate degree from National College in Kansas City, and her Master’s in Education from Drury College in 1971 with a lifetime teaching certificate for K-12. She taught at East Newton, Berry Elementary, Boyd Elementary, and Watkins Elementary, retiring in 1999 after 34 years of teaching.
Hodge was a member of the International Reading Association, and Missouri State Teachers Association, and held leadership roles in the Springfield Education Association, Missouri Retired Teachers Association and United Methodist Women at local and district levels. She was a cancer survivor and a major fundraiser for Relay for Life and a member for the Retired Pastors Group. She corresponded with members of the various groups in which she was involved.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Rex of 57 years, two brothers Edwin Franklin Severn Jr, and Albert Elwood Severn.
She is survived by her son Robert and wife Susan of Galena, and her daughter Rachel Hodge of Springfield, and her two sisters-in-law, Patty Jo Severn and Jan Severn.
Services were Monday, May 24, 2021 at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church 1001 North National Ave, Springfield. Visitation was at 4:30 p.m. followed by a celebration service at 5:30 p.m. with Pastor Angel Garcia officiating. Burial was at 10 a.m. Tuesday May 25, at Brookline Cemetery in Republic.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church.