Former Llano County Judge J.P. Dodgen died Tuesday at the Scott & White Continuing Care Hospital in Temple. He was 65.

Dodgen was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 18 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Llano officials remember Dodgen, who served as the county judge from January 1995 to December 2002 as being an easy-going person and a fair judge.

“He was a really good judge,” said Bette Sue Hoy, Llano County clerk. “J.P. was a good guy; we’re going to miss him.”

Under his eight-year tenure, Dodgen helped advance the restoration of the Llano County Courthouse, the construction of the Llano County Law Enforcement Center and the creation of Llano Memorial Hospital Authority. He also approved significant equipment improvements for the Road and Bridge Department.

“J.P. was one of the nicest people I knew,” said Leon Turner, who served with Dodgen as Precinct 4 commissioner from 1998 to 2002. “I really enjoyed working with him those four years. He was really easy-going and super-intelligent. I considered him a very close friend.”

Carol, his wife of 18 years, survives Dodgen. He is also survived by his three sons, Cas Dodgen of Malta, Mont.; Joe Kirk Gann of Llano and Tommy Stovall of Sedona, Ariz.; his daughter, Sheila Dodgen of Tow, and his grandchildren, Jason Gann, Tyler Gann, Bode Gann, all of Llano and Trevor Sterling Stovall of Sedona, Ariz.

The memorial service will be held today, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. at Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Chapel in Llano with Rev. Mary Margaret Mueller of the Grace Episcopal Church officiating.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Grace Episcopal Church in Llano, the American Cancer Society or any charity of your choice.

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