IN MEMORIAM: Richard G. Hoag Sr.

Ran Valleyview Greenhouse 45 Years

MIDDLEFIELD – Richard Gerald Hoag, Sr. a lifelong area resident and owner of Valleyview Greenhouse, passed away Sunday morning, Aug. 5, 2018, surrounded by his family at his home in the Town of Middlefield. He was 70.

Born Sept. 10, 1947, at Bassett Hospital, he was one of six sons of the late Lafayette C. and Gertrude M. (Eggleston) Hoag.

Raised in Cooperstown, Dick was a member of the Class of 1967 at Cooperstown Central School.

In 1968, he enlisted in the Army and served his country during the Vietnam War. He received his Honorable Discharge on Jan. 1, 1974.

Following his military service, Dick was employed for 9½ years as a painter with the Leatherstocking Corp. in Cooperstown. He then followed his true passion and opened Valleyview Greenhouse in Middlefield in 1975. He owned and operated this business for 45 years, providing many satisfied customers with flowers and landscaping services.

An avid outdoorsman, Dick enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping as well as picking ginseng with his son, pigeons, and going to car shows.  He especially enjoyed spending as much time as he could with his grandchildren, who affectionately called him Poppie.

Dick is survived by his wife, the former Barbara J. Gaughan, whom he married on July 1, 1972, at the Middlefield United Methodist Church; one son, Richard G. Hoag, Jr. and wife, Kelly of Middlefield; one daughter, Bonnie Hoag and Kevin Bear of Livingston Manor;  four grandchildren, Trevor James Hoag, Isabella Maxine Hoag, Brianna Arlene Bear and Kevin Michael Bear, Jr.; five sisters-in-law, Dawn Hoag of Milford, Kathryn Hoag of Milford, Leona Hoag of Maryland, Delores Kilts of Florida, and Barbara Hoag of Maryland; his wife’s siblings, Charles “Chuck” Gaughan and wife, Vicky, Sharon Curcio, Judy Baker and husband, Dennis, William Gaughan and wife, Suzi, and Margo Norman; many nieces and nephews; and many special friends.

Dick was preceded in death by his mother, Gertrude, who died Jan. 24, 1979; his father, Lafayette, who died Sept. 21, 2002; five brothers, Charles F. Hoag, who died July 31, 1989, Lafayette A. “Bud” Hoag, who died May 23, 2009, Douglas B. Hoag, who died June 19, 2012, Robert Carl “Bob” Hoag who died Oct. 15, 2013, and Donald Philip Hoag who died May 7, 2014; his father and mother-in-law, James A. Gaughan, Sr. who died Aug. 20, 1987 and Arlene W. Gaughan who died Nov. 28, 2004; two nephews, James Hoag who died in September 1990, and Justin Robert Hoag who died Sept. 27, 2016; and his dog, KeBri.

Calling hours are 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut St., Cooperstown. The funeral is planned at 1 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ronald Fralick officiating.  Burial with military honors will follow in the Milford Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home.