In Remembrance of Carroll Charles Hoffee

The Life and Love

of

Carroll Charles Hoffee

Fairfield, IL

April 14, 1928 - December 31, 2011

Psalm 98:3

He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness

to the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the victory of our God.

Psalm 98 is often associated with the celebration of the Nativity and the subsequent Season of Christmas. Carroll departed this life in the Christmas season, a season that reminds us of the deep love and affection the Father has for all of us. Carroll left us with the love and affection of the Father deeply planted in his heart.

Verse 3 of Psalm 98 states that God has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Many centuries ago, all of the love of heaven was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger; a mere feeding trough. That powerful and victorious love found its way into the hungry and searching heart of Carroll Hoffee at the age of 19.

All of us have been touched by Carroll's life and love. And with God's love he touched us as a husband, as a father and father-in-law, and as a grandfather. He was proud of his family. He closely followed our ups and downs with concern and prayer and with deep and personal understanding - an understanding that was the fruit of his own many challenges and trials of life. He took note of our accomplishments and opportunities and proudly congratulated each of us with warm personal words.

He was a man who distinguished himself by perseverance, training, and prayer. Speaking of prayer, Carroll daily sat in his chair with his long prayer list of family and friends and prayed for each one.

Everyone in Fairfield, who knew Carroll Hoffee, knew him to be a man of integrity. For 36 years, Carroll had the trust of his employer as Office Manager of Southern Associated Lumber. And in his faith, he was a churchman of the first order. Several words come to mind when I think about my father-in-law: Reliable. Faithful. Leader. Teacher. Generous. A confidant. These are the qualities of a man who loved his family, his Lord, and his Church.

Carroll died this past Saturday morning, December 31, 2011. At 11:27 a.m., God graciously invited him into the eternal embrace of his love. It is Carroll's prayer that we will follow him where he has gone and be with him where there are no more tears, no more sorrow, no more mourning, no more crying or pain, and no more death. Amen.

Condolences and thoughts may be sent to my wife, Debbie, at her e-mail address: dfhankins@hotmail.com