Joe Ronald Hooker

Joe Ronald Hooker, 81, most recently of Tallahassee, Florida, but a proud native son of Texas, passed away at home on Thursday, November 16 after bravely battling a series of health issues over the past year.

Joe began his life in the home of his parents on January 17, 1942. He was born in the small crossroads community of Gresham, Texas, outside of Tyler. He attended Smith County's Flint School and was a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler, where he played football and was a standout athlete in track. Joe attended Tyler Junior College and graduated from the University of Houston before embarking on a long career in human resources.

While working for major manufacturing firms such as Rockwell and Cooper Industries, Joe worked or lived in a variety of locations, including Kearney, Nebraska; Russellville, Kentucky; Independence and Coffeyville, Kansas; Grove City, Pennsylvania; and Syracuse and Manlius, New York. Work trips often took him to many other locations, among them far-flung locales such as Mexico City, Canada and Germany. Outside of work, Joe also enjoyed taking long road trips with his family throughout the United States, often to visit friends and relatives. He was an avid reader, a prolific golfer, and a diehard supporter of the Kansas Jayhawks.

Joe is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary DeCroix Hooker of Springfield, Illinois; stepson Gregg Pruitt (Mary Nell) of Knoxville, Tennessee; son Clint Hooker (Marie) of Westwood, Kansas; and daughter Sara Hutchins of Winder, Georgia. He loved his family very much, and was particularly proud of his seven grandkids — Natalie Pruitt, Will Pruitt, Kevin Michel, Preston Hooker, Marjorie Hutchins, Ben Hutchins and Callie Hooker. He was preceded in death by his parents, D. E. and Ruby Hooker, and his sister, Marjorie Casey (Bill).

Joe preferred not to have a traditional service, but to give his widespread family and friends time to gather to celebrate his life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your favorite charity over the holidays.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/tallahassee-cremation for the Hooker family.