Harry 'Bud' Leonard Hoey Obituary (1931 - 2014)

Harry Leonard “Bud” Hoey, 84 of Rockton, IL, passed away Thursday, March 24, 2016 in The Villages, FL. He was born December 19, 1931 in Rockford, IL, the son of Walter and Evelyn (Durlin) Hoey. Bud was a 1949 graduate of South Beloit High School and during his youth worked as a soda jerk at White’s Ice Cream Parlor in South Beloit. In high school Bud was a wiry athlete who played left halfback for the South Beloit “Sobos” football team, and played on the basketball and track teams. Upon graduating high school, Bud worked as an apprentice lineman for the Wisconsin Telephone Company before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the destroyer USS J.C. Owens from 1950-54 during the Korean War. He graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1959 and started his long career in education at Hinckley (IL) Elementary School. Bud and the love of his life, Nancy Marie (Cornwell) were married February 27, 1960 in St. Peter’s Catholic Church, South Beloit, IL. They both returned to their hometown of South Beloit in 1962, where Bud taught physical education and health education. He coached varsity boys’ basketball and track and field at the high school. In the summers Bud worked as a painter and electrician and played in recreational softball leagues in South Beloit, IL and Beloit, WI. In 1968, Bud moved to Hononegah Community High School in Rockton, IL to teach and coach varsity boys’ basketball and freshman football. In 1973 he was appointed as director of athletics and led Hononegah athletics’ successful transition in 1982 from the SHARK Conference to the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) -10. Bud retired from Hononegah in 1992. Bud was an avid golfer and reader and loved spending time with his friends and family, especially his beloved grandchildren. For the past 12 years, he and Nancy spent their winters in The Villages, FL, where the golf was plentiful and friends - both those from back north and new ones from across the country – were in abundance. He golfed often at most of the courses in the Stateline area and in The Villages, FL. Bud was the family cook, an expert on the outdoor grill. He liked to try new recipes and over the years perfected the pasta sauce his mother Evelyn passed down to him. He was an avid reader of books of maps, cookbooks and cooking magazines. He enjoyed many morning breakfasts together with his close friends and Friday fish-fry dinners with his wife Nancy and friends. Bud was proud of his sons, grandchildren and so many of the students and athletes he taught and coached over the years. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Nancy, sons Bradley Hoey of DeKalb, IL, Steven Hoey of San Diego, CA and Patrick (Nichole) Hoey of Rockton, IL; grandchildren Tabitha Hoey and Ethan Hoey, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Walter and Evelyn, and sisters, Delores “Sis” (Tadder), and Patricia (Larsen). A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2016 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 620 Blackhawk Blvd, South Beloit with Rev. Steven Sabo officiating. A visitation will be held on Friday, April 8, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at McCorkle Funeral Home-Rockton Chapel, 767 Blackhawk Blvd., Rockton, IL. A reception celebrating Bud’s life will be held on April 9, 2016, at the Walter Graham American Legion Post 332 at 221 W Main St, Rockton, IL from noon – 3:00 p.m. Interment will be private.