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Nov. 26, 1933 – March 27, 2020
MONTEREY — Arrangements for Joe Van Hoover, 86, of Monterey, are under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.
Joe Van Hoover was born on Sunday, Nov. 26, 1933, in Wichita Falls, Texas, and died Friday, March 27, 2020, at River Bridge Specialty Hospital in Vidalia, with his wife of 38 years, Martie, by his side.
Joe was a superior athlete having made the high school track team after the coach overheard him mock their top runner saying, “I could run faster than that in my street shoes.” He was ordered to prove it and went on to be the only player who double lettered in his freshman and sophomore years and was voted most popular two years in a row. He had his choice of scholarships of boxing, track or football. He attended East Texas State and Mississippi Southern on a track scholarship but soon followed his father and older brother Charles in the oil field where he excelled and became the superintendent for New and Hughes Drilling Company, the largest in the area.
He had a love of fishing and hunting and loved Louisiana, passing his love onto his family. This was a natural transition to working in the catfish and crawfish industry and owning Joe’s Crawfish in Natchez and Vidalia where his reputation was for the best crawfish in the state. Joe coached little league in Ferriday and, along with his brother Charles, was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in Mineola, Texas in 2005.
Joe always said he fell in love with Martie at first sight and loved listening to her sing. His favorite song was Lion in the Winter, which she sang to him a few days before he passed. He will be missed by his wife, family and the many many friends with whom he shared his love of hunting and fishing and who encouraged him through his recent challenges.
Joe is survived by his wife – Martie Mierley Hoover of Jonesville, LA; daughter, Robin Decker and her husband Bill of Roanoke, VA; his son, Benny Joe Hoover and wife Wanda Sue Wiggins of Savannah, Ga. He is also survived by 6 Grandchildren – Chad Hoover, Jodi Lewis, Nikki Gergacs, Shawn Decker, Jeremy Tarver and Adam Tarver and great grandchildren, Austin, Casey, Braden, Breanna, Charlee, Gracie, Finley, Cameron, Emily, Kote and Katie.
Also his three nieces Mitzi Bolyer, Nell Byrd and Kathy Hoover and great nieces and nephews – Deidra Bolyer Gatlin, Jessie Wayne Bolyer, Kristy Edwards, Ginny Cutrer, Renee Cooley, and Jonathan Wilson.
A Memorial Get Together will be announced at a later date when it is safe to gather and celebrate his life.
To leave an online condolence for the family please visit www.youngsfh.com.