Frances Hodgson

went to be with her Lord and Savior on a Glorious Fall morning at home in Willow Creek Saturday, September 25, 2010. Frances was born in Patoka, Illinois Saturday, February 16, 1929 to Benjamin Franklin Jr. "Frank" & Carol Christine (Cox) Elifritz at the beginning of the Great Depression. In the first couple of years of Frances' life she and her mother lived for a time on the farm in Patoka with her mother's parents Charles and Agnes (Simcox) Cox while her father worked in St. Louis in a restaurant often visited by the St. Louis Cardinals. While living in Patoka Frances was loved and spoiled by her two Grandmothers, Agnes Cox and Lena (Brokelmeyer) Elifritz. For her father to maintain employment in the oil fields it was necessary for the family to leave Patoka. She lived in Norris City, IL for a time and later moved to Albion, IL where Frances finished High School. After High School she attended Business College in Evansville, Indiana. Returning to Albion she met her future husband Albert "Al" Hodgson. Al & Frances were married August 26, 1949 at the Edwards County Fair in Albion, IL. In 1952 they moved out to California where most of Al's family was currently living. For a short time they lived in Santa Rosa eventually ending up in the Eureka/ Arcata area of Humboldt County. In 1954 Frances experienced her first earthquake. After the birth of their first son, Mike, they decided to build a house on property given to them by Al's parents on the Hodgson Ranch in the Willow Creek area. About the time of the birth of their second son, Mark, they we're in the process of opening their new store Willow Creek Varity. Frances operated the store while Al worked as a millwright for Carolina Cal, a local plywood mill near Salyer. Around 1960 they moved the store across the street (Hwy 299) to a larger building. From that point forward Al & Frances operated the store full time together. The store was flooded with 4 to 6 inches of water and mud in the 1964/65 flood due to a creek overflowing its banks and the mountain behind the store siding down up against the back of the building. Life changed quickly for the young family as electrical power was out for weeks and the new home was entirely electric with the exception of a wood fireplace in the living room. The family lived in the living room until power was finally restored. Frances cooked all the family means in the fireplace using a cast iron Dutch oven. Shortly after the flood property was obtained on the west end of Willow Creek on the north side of Hwy 299. A new much larger building was built to accommodate the growth of the store. In the mid-eighties the building was remodeled and a new section added to enlarge the store to the building you see today now home to the Willow Creek Family Health Center. The store was renamed at the time of the remodeling to Hodgson's of Willow Creek and became a Ben Franklin franchise store allowing Al & Frances to carry an extended line of merchandise. The store was a big part of Frances' life. While she took pride in the entire store there were two departments that she enjoyed most, Women's Clothing and the Arts and Crafts. Frances and Ginger Burchard would travel out of the area on buying trips each year to purchase new lines of clothing for the store. Always attempting to find and purchase fashionable women's clothing. The store had many hard to find items and customers came from all around the Klamath-Trinity Valley Area to shop. Many customers came from the coast often times commenting that the store carried merchandise that was hard to find elsewhere. Over the years there were many wonderfully talented and loyal employees two of which were Virginia North and Ginger Burchard. Virginia and Ginger worked for Al & Frances for many years and stayed with them right up till the end when the store was closed at the end of the year in 1995. Another big part of Frances' life was her church. She was a member of the Willow Creek Bible Church and was involved in many church related activities such as Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Christian Women's Club. Frances often times would pickup or make arranges for kids to come to Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. In the days since Frances' passing the family has heard many wonderful stories of how Frances touched their lives. Frances was also involved in Soroptimist International and the Willow Creek Fire Bells. She was one of the original organizers of the annual Bigfoot Daze celebration and generally active in her community. Frances is survived by her husband of 61 years Albert Eugene Hodgson, her son, Michael Hodgson and his wife Susan of Saratoga and their two children Nickisa and Kevin. She is also survived by her son Mark Hodgson of McKinleyville, her brother's children Patrick Elifritz of Bokoshe, OK; Cathy Warren of Red Bluff, CA and her children Phillip, Michael, Kelly and Cameron; Kelly Marshall and her husband Carson of Oklahoma City, OK and daughters Tina and Amber and their son Carson III; and John Elifritz of Fulton MO. Frances loved Mike's wife Susan as the daughter she never had. She very much loved her granddaughter Nickisa and her grandson Kevin. All of them had a very special place in her heart. Frances' brother Jim died at the early age of 37 from complications related to an accident on an oil rig several years earlier. This death left 4 young children without a father who needed their daddy very much. While Frances couldn't replace their Father she showed them love and devotion and tried to be part of their lives whenever possible. She loved each and every one of them and their children as well who were more like Frances' grandchildren than nesses and nephews. Frances was the last surviving member of her immediate family. She was preceded in death by her parents Frank & Christine Elifritz; her sister Thea Mae Elifritz who only lived 16 days and her brother James Phillip "Jim" Elifritz. Funeral Services will be held at the Willow Creek Bible Church Thursday, September 30th at 3 PM. Grave site services will follow immediately afterwards at the Willow Creek VFW Cemetery. A private viewing will be held for members of the family at 2 PM prior to the Funeral. Arrangements are under the direction of Paul's Chapel in Arcata. The family would like to thank Dr Gambin and his staff for Frances' care related to Alzheimer. We would also like to thank Dr Bensky and the staff of the Willow Creek Family Health Center for the care they provided in her final years. A Special thank you to Melody Freeman, Bessie Harris, Carol Draper and Rogene Rawlins who helped Al to make Frances' final days as comfortable as was possible. We would also like to thank those who helped Al with Frances when he was unable to do so on his own. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Willow Creek Bible Church in memory of Frances. Please sign the guest book at www.Times-Standard.com, click Obits.