Thomas Earnest Hager
October 2, 1934 ~ July 28, 2024
Thomas Earnest Hager, age 89, passed away very peacefully on Sunday, July 28th, at 2053 hours in Turlock, California. My pops was born on October 2nd, 1934 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to his father Thomas Hager and mother Pauline (Cole) Hager. He was the third child out of four with two older sisters, Catherine and Francis, and a younger brother, Robert. All his siblings are at home with the Lord already and have welcomed him through the gates of enteral life.
He attended the 9th grade and 10th grade at Hardin High School in Hardin, Montana. Then completed the 11th and 12th grade at Bono High School, in Bono. Arkansas where he graduated.
Somehow, he ended up in Oakland, California where he attended and graduated at Laney Junior College on the 23rd of May 1957. Soon after that, he became a journeyman painter. Three months later, he enlisted into the United States Army. He served from August 1957 to July 1959.
Upon discharging, he moved back to Oakland, California. There he met a young lady named Drucilla, who had a young child. He decided that she was the one and they got married. They moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas when I was born in 1960. We ended up in Houston, Texas for a year and then went back to Arkansas. But after a while in Arkansas, we ended up in California.
Our life as a family was pretty much a Beaver and Wally lifestyle. Camping trips to the beach, Disneyland, and baseball games. My mother and father decided to go separate ways when I was in the 6th grade.
Even though I didn’t live with my father, he saw me every other weekend.
I cherished the time he and I spent together. My favorite memories included watching baseball games with him, that mostly included the Oakland Athletics and a two-week trip him and I took in 1972. We traveled through Montana and Wyoming, where we did a lot of fishing and hiking. I even had the pleasure of meeting friends he had there in Hardin, Montana.
On September 3rd, 1972, he ran his first marathon at the Silver State Marathon. He was an avid runner and loved the sport.
Years later he met another young lady named Julie who had a young daughter. They decided to give it a try and got married. They resided in San Leandro, California. But soon after Pops retirement they ended up moving to Safford, Arizona. Years went by and they decided to move to Carson City, Nevada, where they lived a long time.
Unfortunately, around April of 2021, Pops had a stroke. For the next 38 months he battled his ailment and finally lost his battle.
Pops lived a life to the fullest with simple pleasures, chatting with family and friends, gardening and golfing. He also loved all his grandchildren very much. He had an uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and positive way. He was loved by many and feared by a few, (LOL). He will leave us with many wonderful memories of love and happiness. Until we meet again Pops, I love you.
Graveside Service will be held on Friday, August 9, 2024 at 12:30pm at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, 32053 West McCabe Road, Santa Nella, Ca
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