Gayle S Hodges, 89, of Kuna, Idaho passed away on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Gayle was born May 16, 1926 in Preston, Idaho to George Edwin and Marguerite Dalley Hodges. When he was only two years old his mother passed away and he and his brothers and sister lived and worked on the farm with his grandparents until his Dad married Alta Stephenson, who then helped raise them. He attended Preston Schools but never completed high school. He got a job from his Uncle herding sheep above Soda Springs and over into Wyoming until he enlisted in the army and served his country during WWII. He had his 19th birthday on Shuri Ridge in Okinawa and then later served in the Philippines on the island of Cebu until after the surrender. He then was sent to Tokyo until his discharge. He returned to Preston and married his sweetheart, Zelma Chadwick on January 20, 1947 in the Logan LDS Temple. They made their home in Preston for a year raising chickens and selling the eggs and Gayle worked as a painter and doing remodeling jobs. They moved to the Melba area in 1948 where Gayle worked as a farm-hand for a number of farmers in Nampa and Melba area. With hard work he began to build his dairy herd and in 1954 they bought a small home in Kuna. He and Zelma have farmed in the Kuna area since then. Gayle rented more ground and worked hard to provide for his family. He also worked at the Kuna-Melba Beet Dump becoming a foreman and piler operator at the Bowmont Beet station where he worked for 14 years. It was during this time they purchased another farm and home just down the road, making it their permanent home to raise their three boys and two girls. It was there that he farmed with his sons, building a large dairy herd. Gayle served as a Kuna Volunteer Fireman; he was elected and served as a committeeman on the Farm Home Administration for eight years. They were members of the Mora Grange for 30 plus years. Gayle and Zelma are both honoree farmers for the Kuna FFA. Gayle was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he has served as an assistant Ward Clerk, a counselor in MIA, Sunday School and Elders Quorum and secretary in High Priest Group, he also served as a counselor in the Bishopric. In 1990 Gayle and Zelma were called and served 18 months in the Scotland Edinburgh Mission. They served with love and much dedication to the people of Scotland and still keep in contact with many of those dear friends they made there. After their return from Scotland they served as Boise Idaho LDS Temple workers. Gayle loved to fish and hunt. With as hard as he worked, he always found time every fall to go hunting for deer and elk. In these later years, Gayle had struggled with his health, having being diagnosed with cancer. He fought hard through the different types of cancers and the struggles with his health. His dear sweet Zelma has never left his side and has been dedicated to caring for him. Gayle is survived by his wife, Zelma; his son, James Edwin (Ed) (Rita) Hodges; daughters, Gaylene (Steve) Anderson, Kitty (Brad) King; daughters-in-law, Bonnie (Mel) Forrey, Sandy (Ron) Stone; a brother Quinn Hodges and sister Eda Olson; 19 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren with one expected; four great-great-grandchildren with two expected. He was preceded in death by his parents and step-mother; sons Eugene and Wayne; brothers: Mel, Blaine, Steve, Gary; sister Joylene; one grandchild and one great-grandchild. A special thank you to Genesis Meridian, St. Luke's Meridian, Hospice and MISTI caregivers, nurses, and doctors, especially Dr. Khun and Dr. Bridges. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 26 at the Kuna 13th Ward LDS Chapel, 224 E. Avalon St. in Kuna. A viewing will be held at the church from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 25 and again at the church from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday, prior to the services. Arrangements are under the direction of Zeyer Funeral Chapel, Nampa. 467-7300. Condolences may be expressed at zeyerfuneralchapel.com.
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