Elbert Robert Hoard

On Saturday, July 10, 2021 Elbert Robert Hoard, of Fayette, MO, loving husband and father passed away surrounded by loved ones at the age of 92.  Elbert was born January 8, 1929 in DeSoto, MO to Robert McCain Hoard and Olive Mary (Lee) Hoard.  He grew up in the DeSoto area before his parents moved to a cattle farm near Yates, MO.   On July 3, 1953 he married Dorothy June Mead. 

Elbert was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Doris Hoard Andrews.  He is survived by his wife, five children, nine grandchildren, twenty-two great- grandchildren, his brother, Walter Hoard (Charlene) of Knoxville, TN; his sister, Evelyn Hoard Smith of Everettem, WA;  nieces and nephews, Lee Ann Hoard Nichols (Bruce), Lenore Hoard, Jennifer Hoard Searle (Jon), Jonathon Hoard (Melaine), Richard Smith (Julie),Wendy Loerzel (Jeff) and Robbie Mead (Cathy) and many great nieces and nephews.

Elbert was blessed with five children: Gary Hoard of Fulton, Larry Hoard (Joanne) of Fulton, James Hoard (Debbie) of Detroit Lakes MN, Karla Hoard Huebert (Gerald) of Bluffton, SC and Dr. Michael Hoard of Phoenix, AZ.

He has nine grandchildren:  Father Dylan Schrader, Dakota Hoard (Linsey), Jessica Hoard Paxton (David ), Isaac Hoard (Kylene), Tabitha Hoard Boyer (Scott), Daniel Hoard, Nicole Faubion Cottrell (Jeff), Brandon Faubion (Jaime) and Madison Huebert (Ryan): twenty-two great-grandchildren:  David, Lucy, Eleanor, Benedict, Maryn, Brodie, Kathryn, Isaiah, Eli, Max, Jeremiah, William, Caleb, Larissa, Leela, Helen, Sophia, Asher, Peyton, Jackson, Grayson and Briar.

Elbert graduated from Armstrong High School in 1947.  He studied Agriculture at the University of Missouri and also participated in the ROTC program.  He eventually joined the Army and went to Guam by ship in 1949.  From Guam he served with honor in the Korean War as an engineer supervising Koreans in building bridges and visited Japan. Elbert had a camera and loved taking pictures.  During the Korean War he took many photos which are now in the National Archives.

After the war Elbert worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company from 1951- 1987.  He was put in charge of a cable splicing team in St Louis, MO.   He received a job offer at the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Fayette MO and decided to move his family there. Elbert worked as an electromagnetic switchman.  He retired early when the switches changed from analog to digital in 1987. 

Elbert Loved to travel, after retirement he and his wife traveled many places.  They particularly loved their trip to Alaska in their recreational vehicle.  They made many friends there.

Elbert volunteered a lot as well.  He was an auxiliary police officer, emergency medical technician (EMT) and photographed crimes scenes for the police department.

He was also very active at the First Baptist Church in Fayette.  He was a deacon, gave people rides to church and set up a system at church to videotape services and share them with people who could not attend.  Elbert was adored by many and will be greatly missed.

A visitation is scheduled at Carr-Yager Funeral Home in Fayette on Friday, July 23, 2021 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM .  A graveside service with military honors will follow at New Hope Cemetery at 2:30 PM in rural Howard County on Route O with Father Dylan Schrader officiating.

Condolences may be shared at www.carryager.com.

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