A memorial scholarship fund has been established to honor the memory of 12-year-old Jake Hodge, the Marion youth who died in his sleep on June 21.
Jake was the son of Denis and Shannon Hodge of Marion. His parents were both high school coaches.
Funeral services were held for the youth on Tuesday at the Rocket Arena in Crittenden County. Visitation the evening before at Gilbert Funeral Home had drawn 2,500 visitors.
Jake Hodge had gone to sleep at his home Friday evening, just like any other Friday evening, and did not wake up Saturday morning.
An autopsy, performed at the Western Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office in Madisonville, found no medical issues to explain the youth’s death. Crittenden County Coroner Joe Myers reported that tissue and fluid samples have been sent off for further analysis, but the results will not be available for six to eight weeks.
In excellent physical condition, Hodge excelled in youth sports — baseball, basketball, football and rodeo — and was rated among the top 15 percentile of the Crittenden students who participated each year in the school-sponsored Presidential Fitness Program.
The youth’s life and efforts in the community drew praise from many members of the Marion community, teachers, friends and his pastor.
The scholarship to memorialize Jake Hodge has been set up at Fifth Third Bank in Crittenden County.
Contributions to the scholarship can be made to the Jake Hodge Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Fifth Third Bank, 312 N. Main St., Marion, Ky. 42064.
Also, his father plans an inspirational book intended to help others deal with grief during the loss of a child and to focus on leading children to Christ. The book will be titled “The Legacy of Jake Hodge: It’s not what you take, it’s what you leave behind.”
