James William (Hop) Hopkins

Hop was born Feb. 9, 1928, in St. Clair County east of Taberville. He passed away at the Cedar County Hospital Nov. 8, 2019. His parents were Amp and Annis (Barnett) Hopkins.

Jis parents moved to El Dorado Springs from their farm in 1947, and Hop attended El Dorado Springs High School. He graduated in 1948.

He married Betty (Vittetoe) on April 29, 1949. They worked at the Shoe Factory – he in the cutting department and she in the office.

In the fall of 1949, they moved to Kansas City where three of their children were born. He and his good friend, Joe Witt, owned a service station in Kansas City.

With a wife and three kids Hop moved back to El Dorado Springs and bought the old home place where they raised their family, having lived there 64 years. They had two more children.

Hop bought a new 1957 Chevrolet truck and started running a milk route. Next, he was the driller for Joe Pohl and helped build the Stockton dam. In 1972, he took a job as Head of Maintenance at the R-2 School where he retired in 1991.

They bought a home in Okeechobee, FL, and became residents there. They spent the next 12 winters crappie fishing in Lake Okeechobee. Hop was an avid fisherman and loved to hunt. He and his best friend, Bud Heiserman, were out in the woods every night when coon season was open.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, of the home; two daughters, Robin Fugate and husband, Harold, Kim Daniels of El Dorado Springs; one son, Todd, of Branson; grandchildren – Kamron Collins-Johnson, Chandler Collins, Tori Fugate, Casey Crocker, Ross Hopkins, and Wyatt, Cassidy and Rowdy Hopkins; great-grandchildren, Cash and Porter Collins and Christian Crocker; numerous nieces and nephews and two cousins, Sue Wilkins and Marion Ford.

He was cremated and there will be no service at this time. Arrangements by Sheldon Funeral Home. His cremains will be buried in El Dorado Springs City Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the El Dorado Springs R-II School’s Bright Futures in care of Theresa Christian, 901 S. Grand, El Dorado Springs, MO 64744.