John W. Hoover was born March 10, 1932 during a 10” snowstorm. He was the third of nine children born to Martin L. Hoover and Bessie N. Lyda Hoover. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Winfred, Martin, and Eugene, and sister Wanda.
He is survived by his wife Vivian, sons Dennis (wife Carol) and Danna (wife Nena), daughters Debra Ligon (husband Wayne) and Dixie Farmer (husband Joel), nine grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, sisters Kay, Fay, and Anna, and brother James.
John’s family moved to Burnet in 1940. His father had a debilitating heart attack in 1944, forcing John to take on heavy responsibilities at a young age. He dropped out of Burnet High School in 1948 to help support the family, but returned to school the next autumn and graduated in 1951.
While at Burnet High school he met Vivian Mallett. They married (secretly) in November 1950. In 1951 they moved to Elgin, TX where John learned Morse Code in order to manage railroad stations across Texas. Even while working full time for the railroad, he continued in construction during the evenings.
The family moved back to Burnet in 1958 and John bought an interest in the local lumberyard on Highway 29 and later became the full owner. The lumberyard outgrew its location, where the parking lot of First State Bank of Burnet is now, and moved to its new location on Polk Street. Over the decades, the business grew to include Hoover Construction Company and Hamilton Valley Management, one of the largest RRHA management companies in the State of Texas.
Hoover was always ready to help the community. He was a dedicated member of the Rotary Club and First Baptist Church and was a founder of the Hill Country Community Foundation. He supported the construction of Seton Highland Lakes and the Burnet Industrial Park. The City of Burnet and Burnet County joined up to rename CR 340A to John W. Hoover Parkway in 2017.
A visitation for family and friends will be held Tuesday, December 22nd from 3-7 PM at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home. The wearing of masks and social distance will be observed. A private interment will take place at Hoover’s Valley Cemetery.
Those named as pallbearers were Ben Hoover, Curt Hoover, Paul Hoover, Andy Hoover, Cory Hoover, Roger Sanders, Cary Johnson and Kyle Stripling. Honorary pallbearers named were John Lopes, Roy Smith, A.B. Walters, Lee Ussery, Donald Fawcett, Joe Mattingly and Alvin Norred.
The Hoover family would like to thank the many caregivers who showed John and his family so much care and compassion: Country Oaks Assisted Living, Oaks Nursing Home, Seton Hospice, Compassus Hospice, Lourdes Palacios, Deborah Delario, Margie Holder, and Amy Escamilla.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be directed to the John & Vivian Hoover Endowment at the Hill Country Community Foundation, P.O. Box 848, Burnet, TX 78611.
Friends and family are encouraged to share condolences and thoughts on John’s tribute at www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.
Arrangements entrusted to Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, Burnet, Texas.
