Jerold Dean Hoots,75, of Zirconia NC passed away in the early morning hours of June 18, 2021 at Regency Hospital in Greenville SC. He was surrounded by his family.
Jerold was a native and lifelong resident of Henderson County. He was born October 15, 1945 to Doyle Samuel Hoots and Ella Cagle Hoots, and grew up in the Dana community. He graduated from East Henderson High School in 1964 and went on to serve in the United States Army. He was stationed in Germany. After serving in the Army, he came home and went to work as a millwright at Berkeley Mills in Hendersonville for over 30 years. Jerold was a devoted husband, father, and papaw. He met his wife, Dianne, at the Carolina Drive-In. They were married in 1972 and moved to the Tuxedo community where they raised 2 daughters.
Jerold loved sports. Though he never played sports, he loved to watch them and even coached his girls’ elementary school softball teams. He was a fan of Dale Earnhardt, the Dallas Cowboys, the Atlanta Braves, and anyone who knew him knew his passion for those Carolina Tarheels!! Jerold loved old cars and car shows, drag races at Bristol, he loved to tell stories, as well as feed and watch the birds. His grandkids were the light of his life. He tried to be as involved in their activities as he could. He would travel all over to games and no telling how many puzzles and Lego sets he has helped build over the years!! His favorite holiday was Christmas, and he made sure that everyone got what they wanted and needed. Jerold was also a great friend to so many. He would do anything to help you out if you needed it.
Jerold was also a fighter. He had a major heart attack in 2008 and was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2019. When Jerold was hospitalized on Good Friday, the doctors did not expect him to live more than a few hours or just a few days. He fought hard and with the help and encouragement from his friends and family, and the prayers from the community, he lived two and a half months. His wife, Dianne, was by his side every single day helping encourage him to fight. The Monday before he passed, the grandkids were finally able to see him. Most of them had not seen him in almost 3 months. The fight was just too much for his body to take and he made the choice to be taken off the machines. Even though it was a difficult decision, it was a decision that he was at peace with. He may not have been healed here on Earth, but we rest knowing that he is healed in Heaven.
Left behind to cherish his memory are his wife of 49 years, Dianne Maybin Hoots of Zirconia, daughters Heather McMinn and her husband Gregg of Mills River, Veronica Pace and her husband Clint of Columbus, NC, his grandsons whom he loved more than anything, Ethan McMinn, Luke McMinn, Zack McMinn, and Owen Pace, a sister, Bernice Jones and her husband Maurice of Hendersonville, many nieces and nephews and countless friends.
Services will be held on Monday, June 21stat Cedar Springs Baptist Church in Zirconia, NC. Visitation will begin at 12:30 pm and the funeral at 2pm. Burial will follow at Pearsons Cemetery. The Rev. Oliver “Butch” Skerrett and Rev. Roy Waldrup will officiate. Serving as pallbearers are Dean Jones, Wendell Erwin, Darin Maybin, Lanny Maybin, Jeremy McMinn, and Todd Anders.
The family would like to thank each and everyone who has prayed for them over the past two and a half months. They would also like to thank the staff at Pardee ICU and especially the staff at Regency Hospital in Greenville. The staff at Regency Hospital (Dr. Payne, Dr. Boota, Gesiya, Bobby, Paul, KC, Jean, Toni, Angel, David, Van, Phil, Summer, Brenda, Chastity, Tamara, Shondra, Queena, Darnetta, Anthony, Roberta, Melissa, Missy, Jessica, Tellie, Nani, Norm, Joey, Lyell and Alana) truly became a second family to them over the past several weeks. Even when Jerold was not on their rotation for the day, they still stopped by to check on their favorite patient. They were a huge comfort and support to the family during such a difficult time.