HOISINGTON — Reta Marie Hood, 86, died March 19, 2012 at the Hays Medical Center.
Born Feb. 25, 1926 in Bison, she was the daughter of Jacob and Bertha (Packard) Decker.
On March 12, 1949, she married Melvin Hood in Newkirk, Okla. He died on Dec. 1, 1997. A longtime resident of Hosington she was a registered nurse and worked for Hays Medical Center and Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend for 43 years, retiring in 1988.
Mrs. Hood was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, TOPS in Great Bend, and Ladies VFW No. 7428 Auxiliary in Hoisington. She loved to play cards, bingo and dominos.
Survivors include three sons, Jason Hood, Peabody; Dr. Jerry Hood and wife Betty, Austin, Texas; and Jeff Hood Sr. and wife Betty of Great Bend; two daughters, Janet Hood, Hoisington; and Jolene Helmick, Wichita; two sisters, Barbara Decker, Topeka; and Shirley Peterson, Tucson, Ariz.; 17 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by son, Charles Hood; and three brothers, Kenneth Decker, Marvin Decker, and Melvin Decker.
Funeral services are scheduled at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington officiated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Burial will be at the Hoisington Cemetery.
Visitation is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday March 23, with family receiving friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday, all at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Reta Hood Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home*
Box 146
Hoisington, KS, 67544
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, March 22, 2012