Funeral Services for Emmett E. Hood, Age 95 of Cabool, Missouri will be held on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 at The Elliot-Gentry Carder Funeral Home, Cabool, Missouri beginning at 12-Noon. Visitation will precede the service, beginning at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in The Cabool Cemetery, Cabool, Missouri.
Emmett Edward Hood, aged 96, of Cabool, Missouri, went to be with the Lord on the morning of February 26, 2026, at The Maples Health & Rehabilitation in Springfield following a brief illness. Emmett was born on October 23, 1929, in Licking, Missouri, to Merton Landrum Hood Sr. and Wilma Henrietta Miller-Hood.
The Hood family resided in Duke, Missouri, prior to moving to California during Emmett’s early childhood. At age 12, Emmett secured his first job in California, which involved clipping oranges from trees. Amidst the peak of World War II in 1943, his father harbored concerns regarding potential Japanese assaults on the western seaboard, prompting the relocation of the family back to the central United States. The family almost relocated to the Calico Rock, Arkansas area. However, they found a favorable offer and ultimately settled in Cabool, Missouri, on PP Highway.
When the Hood family settled in Cabool, he worked at a service station as a teenager. As a senior in high school, Emmett played quarterback for the Cabool Bulldogs football team. Despite claiming they lost all their games that season, he still had fun playing. Emmett began his schooling ahead of schedule and completed his education when he was just sixteen years old.
Rick remembers that after school, the bus would leave him, Emmett, and their sister Betty a mile and a half away from their home. The trio had to walk the remaining distance to their residence, and Emmett would toss Kit’s candies ahead of them for Rick to fetch. Emmett’s plan was the quickest way to get Rick back home. According to his brother, Rick, Emmett stepped into the role of head of the household when their father was away for work in the big city.
He held various occupations throughout the years and lived a nomadic life. Emmett enjoyed moving around the United States and living life in the moment. He served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in California during his time in the service. He particularly enjoyed his role as a fire safety officer, and he also spent nine years as a safety specialist at Boeing. Emmett also provided security and safety services for NASA at one point.
Emmett’s pre-retirement career involved working on sand barges in Jefferson City, Missouri, and he even sold sand to residents of Cabool.
Emmett had a passion for competition and would come up with his own games, including the Coke machine game, and would show people the things he learned during his time in the Navy. Throughout the years he enjoyed going to the Simmons swimming hole on the Piney River. He also had a wide range of interests, such as fishing, puzzles, western literature, sports, card games, joke-telling, and pranks, while also being an adventure enthusiast with a surprising singing ability.Among his preferred musical artists were Eddie Arnold and Johnny Cash. Many people thought Emmett resembled the renowned musician Marty Robbins. At times, he was mistaken for the famous singer.
During their Mexican vacations, Emmett’s daughter Lori remembers him singing Spanish tunes alongside mariachi bands in restaurants. Once he completed a song, townspeople would approach him with appreciation, extend their hands in greeting, and express a desire for friendship. His knack for connecting with others meant he made friends wherever he went.
Emmett embraced his freedom and delighted in bringing joy to others. He especially liked to display his acrobatic and gymnastic skills. He was known for his acrobatic flips and tumbles. He executed them from various locations like concrete floors, rope swings on the river, diving boards, or any place suitable for standing or swinging.
Emmett’s grandson Ben recounts a memory from his youth at the Lake of the Ozarks cabin, including his grandfather’s caution about a hole in the dock. Despite the warnings, Ben still found a way to fall into that hole. With boats zooming by and waves crashing around the dock, Emmett was quick to act, pulling Ben from the hole and avoiding any severe injuries. Grandpa Hood was the hero of the day!
Ben also remembers the famous Hood Halloween parties in Cabool, including the time Grandma Pat and Grandpa Hood surprised everyone by switching roles: Pat dressed as a football player, and his grandpa as a cheerleader. It was a major success and brought laughter to everyone. Emmett and Pat were quite the duo.
In recent years, Emmett relocated from Jefferson City to Branson, living with his daughter, Lori, and her spouse, Chris. Emmett had a desire to return to Cabool, a wish he ultimately fulfilled by relocating to the Pineview Heights Senior Apartments in town. During his time there, he reconnected with his very special friend, Betty Sigman. He would cross Business 60 to go have lunch with her and chat. His close friend, Kenny Woods was also very involved in his life.
When Emmett returned to Cabool, he spent considerable time with his brother Rick and nephews Jerry and Mike Hood. Their backcountry excursions often led them to local water mills, cemeteries, and old schoolhouses where Emmett once attended class. They engaged in many card games. Cribbage and five-point pitch were among the ones they enjoyed most. Jerry says Emmett could still remember which cards had been played or not. Emmett’s intense passion for winning made every game challenging for his opponents.
When asked about his secret to a long life, he always said, “I eat tons of bologna.” Emmett was always full of jokes.
Emmett received baptism in Jesus’ name at some point in his life and came to the Lord. He read his Bible with genuine devotion and deep affection for its words. The day before he departed this world, he shared his favorite verse, Psalm 100, with his great-nephew Daniel Hood. Havinglearned the verse, Emmett recited the entire passage. His memory was extraordinary for his age. He remembered things that most others could not. He was always full of surprises for everyone.
In his final days, Emmett stated, “My daughters and family are my legacy.”
Emmett was preceded in death by his wife, Patsy Kay Fugitt – Hood, his parents, his sister Pauline King, brother Mert Jr. Hood, sister Betty ‘Bets’ Hardy, and daughter Cassandra ‘Cassie’Woods.
He is survived by his daughters, Teresa Cain-Coldiron and husband Mike (Lanton), Carol Sale and husband Dwayne (Ponce de Leon), Lori Lucchi and husband Chris (Concord, California), Tina Drake and husband Jamie (Nixa), Amy Evans and husband Kerry (Clever), and his son Rick Hood-Johnson and wife Stacie (Naples, Florida); and his grandchildren Linsey Smith (Nixa), Taryn Cain (Cabool), Benjamin Cain and wife Victoria (Springfield), Mandi Johnson (Reeds Spring), Chad Coble (Elk Creek), Eliza Cannon and husband Matt (Cabool), Levi White and wife Ashley (Rogersville), Emily Shelley and husband Ronnie (Cabool), Ethan Knapp and wife Stefanie (Cabool), Lacey Manness and husband Paul (Branson), Jake Lucchi and husband Ed (Walnut Creek, California), Tessa Lucchi-White and husband Daniel (Concord, California), Cassidy Drake (Longmont, Colorado), Tyler Jackson and Piper Johnson.
Emmett is also survived by oodles and gobs of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
