Obituaries » James "Jim" Morris Hoye

James "Jim" Morris Hoye

December 26, 1940 - August 7, 2022

James Morris Hoye of Goode passed away suddenly on Sunday, August 7, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Margaret “Dee” Hoye, a brother Randy Hoye (Nelda), and four children: Elizabeth Kester (Chapman), Jennifer Leibowitz (Jeff), Mark Hoye (Debra), and Jeff Hoye (Anna). He was blessed to have 11 grandchildren: Benjamin, Samantha, Allison, Matthew, Travis, Kevin, Thomas, Morgan, Madison, Samuel James, & Landin. Also, he was surrounded with the joy of eight great grandchildren: Molly, Penelope, Annabel, Alice, Allison, Autumn, Elijah, & Iris. He was preceded in death by his parents Samuel Hoye and Lula Snead Hoye.

James was born in Beckley, West Virginia and moved with his young family to Virginia after graduating West Virginia Tech with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for a short time at the Radford Arsenal before finding his dream job at the paper mill located in Big Island, Virginia where he worked for over 30 years. He started in the maintenance department before moving to operations. He stayed with his “second” work family through the changes from Owens-Illinois, to Great Northern Nekoosa, to Georgia-Pacific. After retiring in 1997 he helped start a coal hauling business that he remained active with until he sold the corporation.

Outside of work he remained active with various charitable endeavors that involved everything from maintaining the integrity of the Appalachian Trail to repairing houses in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, along with building houses in the Bedford area with Habitat For Humanity, and volunteering at the National D-Day Memorial.

His favorite pastimes when not helping others was to spend time with his family. From yearly trips out west with his grandchildren and Dee to the beach trips with the whole extended family to the Outer Banks he wanted to instill a sense of community within his family. He was a teacher, a mentor, a father, a friend and a hero to his family. He will be thought of and missed on a daily basis.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to either the Big Island Emergency Crew 10961 Lee-Jackson Highway Big Island, VA 24526 phone: 434-478-1822 or the National D-Day Memorial 3 Overlord Circle Bedford, VA 24523 phone: 540-586-3329.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 13, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Tharp Funeral Home, Bedford.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Bedford is assisting the family. To send online condolences please visit tharpfuneralhome.com.

Condolences & Tributes

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I met Jim on the job at Big Island in 1994. He was a great friend and mentor on the job. Maybe we were drawn to each other by the fact we were both natives of WV! He was a great guy that I and others will miss.

Posted by Randy Dye on August 18, 2022

I am Jim's first cousin and our fathers were brothers. I have gotten to know him better in recent years and I am so glad. He was so loyal to our family and such a mentor. We will miss him.

Posted by MARY H ANTONS on August 14, 2022

We were greatly shocked and saddened to learn of Jim's sudden passing. When we got together at family events over the years, Jim always had a smile and a pleasant outlook. Larry and Jim exchanged many email jokes over the years and had spoken by phone several times in recent weeks. We will miss him. We can only hope that you and your family will be sustained in your loss by the pleasant memories of all the good times and events that you all shared with Jim. Our sincere condolences.

Posted by Connie & Larry Leibowitz on August 12, 2022

Jim was one helluva guy. I loved his fishing and hunting tales. Dee and family, you are in my thoughts and prayers. He was one of a kind and will be truly missed.

Posted by Mark Rodman on August 12, 2022

I am saddened to hear of Jim's passing. I had the pleasure of both working for him at the mill and also private sector. I would always save enough time to have a great conversation each time we chatted. RIP my friend.

Posted by Todd Bryant on August 12, 2022

Debra, I am so very sorry your family has suffered such a terrible loss of your father-in-law. Please know you and your family are in my prayers. Sonya

Posted by Sonya Parks on August 10, 2022

Debra- I am so sorry to here about the loss of your father-in-law. He sounded like a wonderful man and I know will be greatly missed by many. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Posted by Courtney Vander Poppen on August 10, 2022

Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. I’m so sorry for your loss. He sounds like a wonderful, kind man who will be greatly missed.

Posted by Donna Melton on August 9, 2022

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