Nora Lee Dodge, 95, of Peculiar, went to be with the Lord on Friday, September 16, 2022, at KC Hospice House in Kansas City, Mo. Memorial Services will be on Friday, September 23, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. at Cornerstone Chapel in Peculiar, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Inurnment will follow in Peculiar Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to First Church of Peculiar.
Nora was born on June 25, 1927, in Overland Park, Kan., to Edward Thurber Savage, Jr., and Leona Marie (Nelson) Savage. She graduated from McPherson High School with the class of 1945, serving as the Class Valedictorian, and was fortunate to attend her 75th class reunion in 2020. Nora went on to attend Kansas State University, where she studied engineering, although her true ambition was to study journalism at the University of Missouri. While at K-State, she was nominated as a homecoming candidate.
After college, she married the love of her life, Bill Dodge, on September 30, 1948, in Gering, Neb., and to this union, they had six children: Robert, Carol “Suzy”, Colleen, Christine, Sally, and Amy.
She spent her career working as the City Clerk for the City of Peculiar and went on to work for 41 years before retiring at the age of 80 in 2007. For her years of public service, her devotion to the City of Peculiar, and the understated role in her capacity as City Clerk, there is a street named after her in Peculiar. Nora also acted as Grand Marshal in the City of Peculiar Sesquicentennial celebration in 2018. Periodically, she wrote articles for the City of Peculiar in the Cass County Democrat, reported news over the phone for the Harrisonville radio station, and had articles appear in the KC Star Southland section.
Nora was actively involved with Prairie Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), serving as a Chapter officer and attending their National Conference at least twice as a representative. She was also a member of the Get-Together Club, International Institute of Municipal Clerks, MO City Clerks Association, and the Red Hat Society. Nora was faithful in her membership with First Church of Peculiar and enjoyed her family attending church with her over the years. She held family as her number one priority and was blessed with a namesake in her great-granddaughter, Nora Ensley Correa. The legacy she leaves behind will be missed by all who knew her.
Nora is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 55 years, Bill Dodge; her son-in-law, David Paskon; her son-in-law, Stanley Wiseman; and her daughter-in-law, Bobbye Lee Dodge. She is survived by her children: Robert (Sandy) Dodge, Carol “Suzy” Paskon, Colleen (Mike) Johnston, Christine (Frank Pagacz) Stunz, Sally (Gary) Sheumaker, and Amy (Jeff) Schmill; her brother, Edward Savage; her sister, Nancy Morris; her 12 grandchildren: Aubrey (Rashid) Washington, Matthew Paskon, Heather (Jaw) Belanger, Corey (Erin) Johnston, Craig (Missy) Johnston, Celina Selemaea, Joel (Brianna) Stunz, Tamara Rider, Philip Corbett, Rachel (Stephan) Hosterman, Jake (Cassie) Wiseman, and Laura (Eddie) Correa; 30 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many extended family and friends.
Arrangements-Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Mo.; atkinsonfuneralhome.com