Roy Hart

Roy Harold Hart was born on November 9, 1940 to P.B. and Audie Pearl Hart in Odessa, and passed from this earth April 8, 2015 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Roy’s early life in Odessa was a very happy childhood filled with family, friends and a horse named “Little Brown Jug”. Roy’s father passed on a talent and love of music which led Roy to take up the violin which he played all through his school years and beyond.

Roy attended Bonham Junior High where he met Merita Hammond, under the guise of needing help in algebra class. She helped him in that class, as well as many others. They began dating that year and upon graduation from Odessa High School in 1959, they were married. In August of 2014 they celebrated 55 years of marriage.

After graduation from OHS, Roy and Merita furthered their educations achieving degrees from Odessa College, Sul Ross State University, Abilene Christian University and East Texas State University (now Texas A&M Commerce) where he obtained his doctorate degree. Each town and university was filled with rich experiences, good friends and fond memories.

It was also during this time that Roy fulfilled his service to the United States Navy. He often told the story of leaving early from a high school class in 1958 and joining the U.S. Navy Reserves. He served on the destroyer USS W.C. Lawe from 1963 to 1965.

After his discharge from the Navy, Roy returned to West Texas “for one year” – which turned into a lifetime commitment. His teaching career began in Seminole and three years later he accepted a position in student services at Odessa College. Roy was committed to the philosophy of the community college and served in many associations in support of community colleges. He remained at Odessa College for 32 years serving in a variety of administrative and teaching positions. At the time of his retirement, Dr. Hart was the Dean of Administration.

Along the way, Roy and Merita had two sons and five grandchildren. David Hart of Plano, Texas married Susan Hart and they have two children: Mallory and Michael. Philip Hart of Flower Mound, Texas married Amy Hart and they have three children: Aaron, Ian and Ellen Kate.

Although Roy was an only child, he had a large family of siblings from Merita’s family. His sisters-in-law include: Rubenia Haynes (deceased) of Odessa; Patsy McKay Tacker of Odessa; Mae Moneyhun of Bollingbrook, Illinois; Doris Whitley and husband Weldon of Odessa; and Glenda Cobb and husband Danny of Odessa.

Critical to Roy was his faith and commitment to service in the congregations where he worshiped. Roy served in various leadership positions and taught numerous classes. In 1992, Roy helped create a faith-based breakfast program designed to provide a full hot breakfast and a brown bag lunch to anyone who was hungry. This work continues today at The Jesus House in Odessa.

Roy enjoyed traveling with Merita. Whether it was enjoying the cool temperatures of the Pacific Northwest in the summer, the fall leaves of New England, visiting grandkids in the Dallas area, or a simple weekend trip to the Big Bend area; Roy and Merita enjoyed their travels to the fullest.

Roy never met a stranger, greeted all as friends, and touched countless hearts.

His Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, April 10th at Golf Course Road Church in Midland.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the West Texas Food Bank of Odessa, TX. www.wtxfoodbank.org