1928
Rex
2012
Rex B Hoy
July 27, 1928 — May 19, 2012
Rex Bruce Hoy, 83, of Fairway, Kansas passed away on Saturday, May 19th, 2012 with his family at his side. Rex was born on July 27th, 1928 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Leslie B. and Mabel E. Hoy. In his early years, he was raised on a farm south of Lincoln and was the oldest of 5 siblings. As a farm boy growing up in the depression, Rex learned the lessons of making something out of nothing at a very young age from his parents. Over the years, there were many stories about Rex, his brothers, and sister feeding and taking care of the farm animals before school, and racing home to get their chores done in the afternoons before dark. Those were tough days with very little money but a time that forged Rex for the rest of his life. As a young man, Rex was always active in sports and while attending Lincoln High School, he lettered in both track and football. In 1945, he entered the University of Nebraska, making varsity guard his freshman year. At the age of 18, and putting his college football career on hold, Rex enlisted in the Army and served his country in Japan. After his honorable discharge, he returned to graduate from college, excel on the football field for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and served the city of Lincoln as a police officer at night. His highlights as a football player included a game winning 55 yd touchdown against the University of Kansas and an honorable mention for All-American as an offensive tackle his senior year.
Behind every successful man is a very smart and loving woman, and Rex met his wife of 64 years, Lillian, on a double blind date, where the girls had to pay the bill because the boys left their wallets in their football lockers. Rex and Lillian were married on May, 15, 1948 and later became the parents of their beautiful daughter, Sharon. After graduation, Rex received a job teaching math and serving as an assistant football coach at Wyandotte High School. He also began selling insurance part time for State Farm Insurance, a career that has lasted nearly six decades in the Shawnee Mission, KS area. As one of the first State Farm Agents in Johnson County, KS, Rex had the privilege of serving thousands of clients in the Kansas City area and employing many great people. Over his long career, Rex achieved numerous awards and the highest levels of achievement with State Farm. These awards included the Ambassador Traveler (28 times), Golden Triangle Qualifier, Chairman's Circle and a member of the Lifetime President's Club.
During his successful career, Rex was active in leadership in both civic and athletic affairs. He was president of the Mission Area Chamber of Commerce for two years, organized the Johnson County Chamber of Commerce President's council, and served two terms as its president. Rex served on the board of directors for the Johnson County YMCA for 10 years and coached and sponsored YMCA football during that time. He also served 22 years as the Kansas State Representative for the 24th district. During that time, he served on the Ways and Means Committee and Co-sponsored the Original Homestead Act. He also helped support and pass the Division of Assets SB – 264 which helped Kansas senior citizens improve their health care costs. His legacy in the House of Representatives continues to this day with chants of HOY, HOY, HOY, echoing thru the capital whenever a state representative is late entering a vote. Recreationally, Rex enjoyed many years of attending the Nebraska Football games, flying his plane, visiting his family in Nebraska and spending time in Cancun and on cruise ships with the love of his life, Lillian.
Rex will be greatly missed by his family, friends, employees and clients, the athletic teams he sponsored over the years, his friends at State Farm Insurance and his community. Rex was preceded in death by his parents, Les and Mabel Hoy, brother Glenn Hoy and sister Shirley Kirby. He is survived by his wife Lillian Hoy, daughter Sharon Freeman, brothers Dean and Marvin Hoy, granddaughters Wesley and Allison Freeman, grandson Russell Freeman and numerous nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel from 5 – 8 pm on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012. Funeral services will be held at 1pm on Thursday, May 24th at the Old Mission United Methodist Church at 5519 State Park Road, Fairway, KS 66205. Burial Services will be held at 1 pm on Friday, May 25th at the Simmons-Saltillo Cemetery, 3501 Rokeby Road, Lincoln, NE 68430. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the KC Hospice House in remembrance of Rex B. Hoy at 9221 Ward Parkway Suite 100, KCMO, 64114.
Behind every successful man is a very smart and loving woman, and Rex met his wife of 64 years, Lillian, on a double blind date, where the girls had to pay the bill because the boys left their wallets in their football lockers. Rex and Lillian were married on May, 15, 1948 and later became the parents of their beautiful daughter, Sharon. After graduation, Rex received a job teaching math and serving as an assistant football coach at Wyandotte High School. He also began selling insurance part time for State Farm Insurance, a career that has lasted nearly six decades in the Shawnee Mission, KS area. As one of the first State Farm Agents in Johnson County, KS, Rex had the privilege of serving thousands of clients in the Kansas City area and employing many great people. Over his long career, Rex achieved numerous awards and the highest levels of achievement with State Farm. These awards included the Ambassador Traveler (28 times), Golden Triangle Qualifier, Chairman's Circle and a member of the Lifetime President's Club.
During his successful career, Rex was active in leadership in both civic and athletic affairs. He was president of the Mission Area Chamber of Commerce for two years, organized the Johnson County Chamber of Commerce President's council, and served two terms as its president. Rex served on the board of directors for the Johnson County YMCA for 10 years and coached and sponsored YMCA football during that time. He also served 22 years as the Kansas State Representative for the 24th district. During that time, he served on the Ways and Means Committee and Co-sponsored the Original Homestead Act. He also helped support and pass the Division of Assets SB – 264 which helped Kansas senior citizens improve their health care costs. His legacy in the House of Representatives continues to this day with chants of HOY, HOY, HOY, echoing thru the capital whenever a state representative is late entering a vote. Recreationally, Rex enjoyed many years of attending the Nebraska Football games, flying his plane, visiting his family in Nebraska and spending time in Cancun and on cruise ships with the love of his life, Lillian.
Rex will be greatly missed by his family, friends, employees and clients, the athletic teams he sponsored over the years, his friends at State Farm Insurance and his community. Rex was preceded in death by his parents, Les and Mabel Hoy, brother Glenn Hoy and sister Shirley Kirby. He is survived by his wife Lillian Hoy, daughter Sharon Freeman, brothers Dean and Marvin Hoy, granddaughters Wesley and Allison Freeman, grandson Russell Freeman and numerous nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel from 5 – 8 pm on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012. Funeral services will be held at 1pm on Thursday, May 24th at the Old Mission United Methodist Church at 5519 State Park Road, Fairway, KS 66205. Burial Services will be held at 1 pm on Friday, May 25th at the Simmons-Saltillo Cemetery, 3501 Rokeby Road, Lincoln, NE 68430. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the KC Hospice House in remembrance of Rex B. Hoy at 9221 Ward Parkway Suite 100, KCMO, 64114.
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