Kermit R. Hoover

Kermit Hoover, kind and gentle man, went to be with the Lord on December 17, 2007. Born December 8, 1909, in Mt. Calm, Texas, to Clarence and Effie Hoover, he grew up in and loved that small farming community. The Bible verse, Romans 12:18, “…be at peace with all men,” aptly describes Kermit. Because of his unassuming and modest nature, he made friends wherever he went. He attended Texas Tech and was a farmer and a ranch manager before working in Dallas for Lederle Laboratories in the early 1940s. Although he could have avoided service in World War II because of his age and family, he volunteered for the Marines and went through boot camp at the age of 34. He became a member of VMF-214, the famous “Black Sheep Squadron” and served in the Okinawa campaign. He was proud to be a Marine. After the war, Kermit returned to Mt. Calm and built and operated the Hiway Grill, a café and service station. The Grill quickly became a gathering place for the returning veterans of the war--Tom Brokaw’s “Greatest Generation.” A lively and unpredictable place, many pranks and jokes made the Grill a fun spot for the locals and visitors alike. And Kermit was always right in the middle of it all. That was a memorable era. Kermit and his family moved to Waco in 1953 where he worked for Behrens Drug Company until his retirement in 1974. He loved the game of golf. From the hickory-shaft days in Dallas in the late 1920s, he played regularly until he was 90, often shooting his age in later years. In 1983, he and his son, Jinx, went on a golfing holiday in Scotland, where he fell in love with the links and the friendly Scots. He leaves behind many golfing pals in the Waco area. Kermit was preceded in death by his wife, Marie, and daughter, Enid Ann. He is survived by his son, Kermit Hoover, Jr. also known as Jinx, his wife, Gloria, and three grandsons, Cody wife Brenda, Rex wife Cathy, and Matt. Also five great-grandchildren, Dylan, Kelly, Jenna, Kyle and Jack, all of Austin; Kermit’s three brothers: Vern of Carlsbad, CA; Jack wife Doris of Palo Alto, CA; and Bill wife Claudia of Waco; and numerous nieces and nephews. Our family would like to thank the loving people of Beckett Meadows in Austin and Hospice Austin, who cared for Kermit over his last days. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 28, at Wilkirson Hatch Bailey of Waco. Burial will be at the Mt. Calm Cemetery immediately afterward. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.