Joseph Hogan's Obituary
Joseph Leroy Hogan was born June 28, 1932 near Mountain Grove, Missouri to Marion Cromwell & Bessie Ellen (England) Hogan. He went to heaven on May 31, 2012 at the age of seventy-nine years, eleven months, and three days.
Leroy attended West Campbell School near Mountain Grove then transferred to Hartville School when the family moved to the High Point community north of Hartville. After his freshman year of high school, they moved to Preston, Missouri where he graduated from Preston High School with the class of 1949.
Leroy met the love of his life, Glennis Mae Hightower, at Elk Creek Baptist Church where he winked at her through the window. On November 10, 1951, they were united in marriage. He joined the U.S. Army in June 1952 and was stationed in Maryland and Alabama where he proudly served his country as an instructor and sergeant. He was honorably discharged in 1955.
The couple settled in Tulsa, Oklahoma and began their family: Debra Lea was born in 1955 and Bruce Edwin in 1957. They moved to Springfield, Missouri in 1959 where Denise Ann was born in 1961.
While in Tulsa, Leroy began attending college at University of Tulsa. During this time he worked for Douglas Aircraft. In Springfield, he worked at Royal-McBee as a Time Study Engineer and attended night classes at Drury University. He graduated in 1970 with a B.S. in Business Administration with Minors in Political Science and Psychology.
Leroy & Glennis purchased land from her father in 1958 and Leroy spent the weekends improving the farm located in the Grovespring/Hartville area. He built a one-room cabin fondly dubbed the Sugar Shack on the property where the family spent every weekend during the '60s. He designed and built a new home attaching it to the cabin. They moved from Springfield to the farm in 1969 where they lived until 2005. During those years, they raised beef cattle & hogs. In 2006, the farm became a Missouri Century Farm. After selling the farm, they retired in Grovespring.
When Royal-McBee closed, Joe (as he was known at work) was employed at Detroit Tool in Lebanon, Missouri for a few years. He continued his career in time study at Fasco in Ozark, Missouri where he worked until 1978. His final employment was at Marathon Electric, Lebanon, from which he retired in 1992.
Leroy was saved at an early age. He was baptized in Elk Creek in July 1964 with his daughter, Debbie, and his parents. He joined Elk Creek Baptist Church where he served as a deacon for the rest of his life. He was instrumental in building an addition to the church house in the early 1990's. His nearly 80 years of life on this earth were full of plans and projects. He was a creative thinker who could figure out a way to make what was needed. He sometimes spent more time and money making something when it would be easier to just go buy it, but his creativity needed an outlet. He got satisfaction from seeing his ideas take shape. He enjoyed restoring tractors and old cars especially Studebakers. He also remodeled a few houses.
He enjoyed music of many genres including big bands, brass bands, classical, country and blue grass. He was an avid reader and also liked watching military movies. As his activities slowed down a bit in his later years, he looked forward to meeting friends at the local cafe for coffee and conversation. In the last year of his life, God sent a little dog, Cocoa, who became his constant companion bringing him joy and comfort.
Joseph Leroy Hogan was a well-respected man who folks described as intelligent, industrious, quiet, thoughtful, helpful and humble. He spent his lifetime providing for and helping his children. Born during the Great Depression, he wanted his family to have a better life than he had as a child. Leroy and Glennis, through hard work and with much love, built a legacy for their family.
Mourning the loss of Leroy are his wife, Glennis; his children, Debbie and Danny Jones of Hartville, Bruce Hogan and Sheila Hamrick of Hartville, Denise and Lee Roy Jones of Grovespring; his seven grandchildren, Dustin Jones and wife Jennifer, Danielle Boggs and husband Robbie, Dalton Jones, Ian Hogan, Andi Sanders, Belle Jones and Lacey Jones; his six great-grandchildren: Elijah, Rosalie and Lucy Jones, and Daphne, Delilah and Juliet Boggs; two nephews, Lavon and Wayne Hogan; a niece, Betty Palmer; his sisters- and brothers-in-law: Edna Burris, Ezra Hightower, Herman and Claudine Hightower, Betty and James Gray, and Frank Hightower and their families, his church family and many other relatives, friends and neighbors.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Garland Hogan (who died in infancy) and Eldon Hogan and wife Vula; a sister, Letha Findley, her husband Elmer, and their son Richard. What a joyous reunion they are having! During his last days as the family gathered around his bed praying hand-in-hand, Leroy lifted his hands saying, “Praise God!” Today he is praising in the very presence of God where we will meet again. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15
Funeral services for Leroy Hogan will be at 2:00 pm Monday June 4 2012 in the Elk Creek Baptist Church, north of Hartville, burial will follow in the Shaddy Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday evening June 3 2012, 4:00-5:30 pm in Holman-Howe Funeral Home, Hartville, Missouri.
Memorial Contributions may be made in memory of Leroy to the Shaddy Cemetery, or Elk Creek Baptist Church, and may be left at the funeral home.
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