December 8, 1939 - May 7, 2014
MARYLAND - Donald Philip Hoag, a lifelong area resident, passed away early Wednesday morning, May 7, 2014, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. He was 74.
Born December 8, 1939, in Cooperstown, he was a son of the late Lafayette C. and Gertrude (Eggleston) Hoag.
Raised on the Beaver Meadow Road, he worked in the cauliflower fields, at the bowling alley and at Bouton's Greenhouses in Oaksville.
On January 10, 1957, Don enlisted in the Army National Guard of New York and proudly served with the 3rd Battalion 101st Armored Cavalry. He received his honorable discharge on January 19, 1959 at which time he enlisted in the United States Navy.
After receiving his honorable discharge from the Navy, he returned to Otsego County and worked for Medical Coaches in Oneonta and the Beechnut Factory in Canajoharie. For almost 30 years he owned and operated Alpine Greenhouse and Florist in Morris as well as Alpine Painting and Roofing, and was the principal contractor for the Manor Farm in Morris.
An avid outdoorsman, Don enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping with his kids and brothers as well as picking ginseng, feeding the fish in his pond and watching the birds. He was a devoted fan of Syracuse basketball as well as NASCAR, and had an extensive collection of marbles. Don loved to have fun and will be remembered as being a great practical joker. Most of all he loved his family and was exceedingly proud of his wife, children and grandchildren.
Don is survived by his wife, the former Barbara Barnes, whom he married on March 22, 1975; his children, Donald P. Hoag, Jr. and his wife Rosemary of Cooperstown, Mark Walley and his wife Robin of Westville, John Walley and his wife Jennifer of Otego, Steven Hoag and his wife Yvonne of Atlanta, GA, and Kimberly Hoag Beckley and her husband David of Milford; 12 grandchildren, Tammy Sickmon and her husband John, Justin Hoag, Kyle French and Tiana Hanlon, Megan and Marshall Walley, Piper Hoag and Samuel Pharis, Kyle , Erik, Savannah and Taylor Beckley; two great grandchildren, Lydia Botita and Garrett Sickmon; one brother, Richard Hoag and his wife, Barbara, of Middlefield; four sisters-in-law, Dawn Hoag of Milford, Kathryn Hoag of Bridgewater, Leona Hoag of Maryland and Delores Kilts of Florida; and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his good friends, Ed Hunt, Mickey Miller, Barbara Quintin, Elizabeth Newell, Vicki Miller, and Russ and Debbi Card, and his beloved dog, Brandy Mae.
Don was preceded in death by his mother, Gertrude, who died January 24, 1979; his father, Lafayette, who died September 21, 2002; four brothers, Charles F. Hoag, who died July 31, 1989, Lafayette A. "Bud" Hoag, who died May 23, 2009, Douglas B. Hoag, who died June 19, 2012 and Robert Carl "Bob" Hoag who died October 15, 2013, his mother-in-law, Marjorie Barnes, who died March 19, 2013, and a good friend, Randy Joy.
Family and friends are invited to call and pay their respects at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, May 9, 2014.
A Funeral Service will be offered at the funeral home at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2013, with the Rev. Ronald Fralick, officiating. Burial will follow in the Milford Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by members of the New York State Military Forces Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in Don's memory may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 810 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10019.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
