Dana Shea Hodges-Denny, 37, of Taylor Springs died Friday, April 8, 2016, at 10:30 p.m. in Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
A memorial service for Mrs. Hodges-Denny will be held Thursday, April 14, at 10 a.m. in the Ware's Grove Lutheran Church in rural Butler. The Rev. John Jaffrey and the Rev. Matt Ferguson will officiate, with burial to be in Ware's Grove Cemetery. The Illinois National Guard Funeral Honors Corps will conduct Military Rites at graveside. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 13, from 4 until 8 p.m. at the Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro.
She was born on March 6, 1979, in Springfield to Kim (Ebeling) Blackburn and Daryl Hodges. A 1997 graduate of Hillsboro High School, she had earned an associate's degree in general studies. She served in the Army National Guard for 17 years and was an Army Reserve staff sergeant. During Operation Iraqi Freedom from April 2003 to April 2004 she was overseas as a member of the 233rd Military Police Unit. She had traveled all over the world as an MP and was awarded many medals and service ribbons during her military career and was featured in a book, Patrolling Baghdad, for her work in Iraq. At the time of her death she was a member of the 236th ICTU Reserve Unit based in Decatur.
As a civilian she worked as a mentor at the Cornerstone Academy in Nokomis. Except for her time in the military, she had lived in Hillsboro and Taylor Springs.
She and John Denny were married in Hillsboro on Oct. 10, 2015; he survives in Taylor Springs. Also surviving are one daughter, Brooklyn Rose Fisher of Taylor Springs; her mother, Kim (Bob) Blackburn of Fillmore; her father, Daryl Hodges of Hillsboro; one sister, Cody Hodges of Hillsboro; and a niece, Sophia Blankenship.
The family suggests memorials be directed to the Child Hunger Program of the Hillsboro School District.
Condolences can be sent online to basspattondeanfh.com.
