Velma Moody

WAUNETA -- Velma Moody, 93, died Thursday (Dec. 24, 2009), at the Heritage Care Home in Wauneta.

She was born Dec. 29, 1915, to Claude R. Hixon and Mary Etta (Ford) Hixon, in a sod house in rural Hayes County. She attended Spring Valley Rural School north of Wauneta and graduated from Wauneta High School in 1932. Following graduation, she returned to Spring Valley to teach school.

On April 7, 1934, she married Clifford C. Moody. She lived north of Wauneta until 1955 when she moved to Denver, where she worked as a secretary until 1965. She returned again to the farm until 1981, when she moved to Tucson, Ariz., where she operated Velma's Home Health Care. She housed elderly patients in her home for 17 years. During that time, she and her staff cared for 74 ladies and a few men, until her declining health forced her into retirement.

She was a member of the Wauneta United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Clifford C. Moody in 2005; her sister, Julia Rodman; brothers, Ford and Byron Hixon; grandaughter, Tina Stroup and grandson-in-law, Dan Troup.

Survivors include her son, Ronald Moody and wife, Ellen of Tucson, Ariz.; her daughter, Mary Etta Gage and husband, Keith of Wauneta; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Saturday, 11 a.m. (MT), at the Wauneta United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Judy Dye officiating. Internment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Wauneta.

Visitation will be Friday, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. (MT), at Liewer Funeral Home in Wauneta.

A memorial has been established to the Wauneta Senior Center and the Wauneta United Methodist Church.

Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.