Henry Ora Hoggatt

Henry Ora Hoggatt Jr. passed from this life on June 23, 2022 following a brief but difficult encounter with cancer. He will be missed my many.

He is survived by his three children, Bill Hoggatt (Karen) of Albuquerque, and grandchildren Olivia and Aidan, Tim Hoggatt (Kimberly) of Georgetown Texas, and grandchildren Michaela,  Sean, and Will, and Becky Hoggatt-Dandade (Tushar) of Albuquerque New Mexico, and grandchildren TJ, Liam, and Tristan. He is also survived by his three siblings, Jim of Florissant Colorado, Barbara Work (Tom) of Plano Texas, Jerry (Leslie) of Castle Rock Colorado, and numerous nephews and nieces.

He was born in Waurika, Oklahoma on November 28, 1943, to Ila Faye and Henry Ora Hoggatt Sr. He was almost two years old before his citizen soldier father returned from the European Theater of World War II and met his son for the first time. To his siblings Jimmie Ray, Barbara Ann, and Jerry Lee, as he called us, he was known as Ora Jr. We have such good memories of him as a big brother.

Growing up in our family drew Hank to the outdoors. He was an avid camper, fisherman, and hunter and spent untold days and nights on the lakes and plains of Nebraska and rivers and mountains of Colorado and New Mexico.

Not long after he graduated from Farmington (New Mexico) High School in 1962, Henry fell in love with a way of life called the U.S. Marines. Well, maybe not at first. But in his later years we heard him say often that he’d still be in the Marines if they’d let him. After proudly serving his country for over a decade, including three tours in Viet Nam, and leaving the ranks of active duty as a Gunnery Sargent, he worked in various jobs that flowed from his amazing gift for understanding the technology of electronic communications. He worked in leadership roles in the oil and gas industry and sales of the emerging cell phone phenomenon. But his family will tell you, he was never again not a Marine. At the time of his death he was the Commander of American Legion Hall 118 in Rio Rancho, and will be sorely missed by his many friends there.

In the early 60’s he also found himself deeply in love with a beautiful girl from Aztec New Mexico named Kathy Earnest. Bill, Tim, and Becky came along and Henry and Kathy raised them in U.S. Marine bases and various oil towns of West Texas. Though his marriage to Kathy didn’t last a lifetime, their friendship did, deepening in his last days.

Hank loved his family and friends. He also loved to return home to the four corners area of New Mexico to camp in Cottonwood Campground to hunt the area and fish the fabled San Juan River. He would often gather an entourage of brothers and sister, friends, children, and grandchildren to share the time there with him. His storytelling, gift for conversation, and campfire cooking will be sorely missed.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents and three grandchildren, Noah, Ila, and Isabella Dandade.

A Viewing is planned for 10:00 a.m., July 21, 2022, with a Memorial Service to follow at 11:00a.m., at Daniels Family Funeral Services - Sara Chapel, 4310 Sara Road in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Internment is planned at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico at 2:30 p.m. that afternoon, and a Celebration of Life will be held afterwards at American Legion Post 118 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.