Mr. Hoats was born on Thursday, September 23, in Tacoma, Washington, the son of the late John Roy and Grace Black Hoats. He graduated from Stadium High School in Tacoma and attended the University of Puget Sound. He was a pilot in the U. S. Navy during World War II, flying coastal patrols watching for German submarines. During this time he was stationed on St. Simons Island, where he met his wife, of 54 years, Leohla Lee. They were married in Christ Episcopal Church on the island and lived there, they moved to Tacoma and then moved to West Point. Mr. Hoats was a member of the First United Methodist Church of West Point, the Wesley Men’s Sunday School Class and loved delivering meals for Meals on Wheels.

Survivors include his daughter Cassandra Hicks of West Point; his sons, John “Bubba” (Beth) Hoats of Alpharetta, Kenneth (Heather) Hoats of West Point and Hunter (Dee) Hoats of Seattle, Washington; his grandchildren, Corbin, Curry and Lillie Hoats of West Point, Brandon Hoats of Charleston, South Carolina, Stephanie (Chris) Barber of Apalachicola, Florida and Ashli Novitch of Denver, Colorado; numerous cousins in Colorado, Oregon and Washington; caregivers, Mattie Kyles, Leuveina Turner, Janice Bandy and Betty Reed; his cat, Raz. Mr. Hoats was preceded in death by his wife Leohla, his sister, Phyllis Hoats Jackson and his son-in-law, Bob Hicks.