Steven Hodges

Steven Weldon “Steve” Hodges unexpectedly went to be with our Heavenly Father on Sept. 28, 2014. Steven was born July 7, 1948, in Commerce, Texas. He was the only child of Ralph Weldon Hodges and Hester Beatrice (Adair) Hodges. Until his parents moved to Grand Prairie, Texas, Steven spent his early years on the family farm in Fairlie, Texas.

After graduation from Grand P

rairie High School in 1966, Steven pursued a journalism degree at the University of Texas in Austin and East Texas State University in Denton, Texas. He was editor of two outdoor magazines before moving to Houston and entering the field of advertising. Steven met his future wife when he undertook an extensive advertising campaign for her company. After their marriage, owning and breeding quarter horses soon became the couple’s favorite pastime.

In 1986, they moved to Lockhart, Texas to breed, raise and show quarter horses on a full time basis. Their Plum Creek Quarter Horses competed, quite successfully, in multiple horse events such as cutting, reining, western pleasure and trail. They and several other couples also established the Southwest Cutting Horse Association, which met for many years at the Civic Center in San Marcos, Texas.

Steven is a current member of the American Quarter Horse Association, a lifetime member of the Foundation Quarter Horse Registry and a lifetime member of the Capitol Area Quarter Horse Association. Steven was preceded in death by his parents and one stepdaughter, Carol Anne Beaver.

He is survived by Betty Anne (Eklund) Hodges, his wife of 35 years; stepdaughter and husband, Vicki Lynn and Randy Perdue; stepdaughter Barbara Leigh Payne; stepdaughter Terri Elaine Barton; 10 step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; five step-nephews, three step-nieces; and sisters-in-law Mellie Killian and Betty Lou Eklund.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, at O’Bannon Funeral Home with Jay Creighton officiating. Burial will follow at the Luling City Cemetery. Pallbearers include Jason Burt, Cullen Taylor, Connor Payne, Arlon Eklund, Roy Carl Eklund and Thomas Grady Eklund. Arrangements under the care and direction of O’Bannon Funeral Home 210 S. Laurel, Luling, Texas (830) 875-5713.