Devon A. Hoover

Devon Alan Hoover, aged 53, passed away on Sunday, April 23, 2023. Devon was born to Clarence and Lauretta Hoover on November 18, 1969, in Elkhart, Indiana. Devon was the fourth child of seven and the middle member of what the family affectionately called "the three little ones." He took initiative in this little group, planning their pretend games and determining the rules that governed their play. Games of Monopoly went on for days as he kept suggesting new rules to extend the game and helped negotiate bank loans for struggling players. His early life was not all play and included plenty of manual labor. Until he left for college, Devon worked on the family dairy farm--milking the cows, planting and harvesting crops, and doing many other chores alongside the rest of the family. One of his hobbies was tending his own small garden in the backyard, which he had filled with herbs and perennials. He also raised and sold potatoes during his teenage years. As the only son, Devon could have taken over the family farm, but he decided early in life that he wanted to become a doctor. He graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1996 and completed his residency at Henry ...[more]

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d Hospital in Detroit. Throughout his career , he served his patients with exceptional skill and compassion. At the time of his death, he had been practicing for 27 years as a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in the treatment of neck and back disorders. According to Ascension St. John Hospital, Dr. Hoover was recognized each year since 2008 "as one of Metro Detroit's most respected neurological surgeons in Hour Detroit magazine's annual 'Top Docs' rankings." Devon loved his home in the Boston-Edison Historic District of Detroit, Michigan. Since he purchased the home in 2008, he had been steadily transforming it room by room with period décor and carefully selected antiques. He was essentially the curator of his own museum, which he loved sharing with friends, family, and visitors. Devon had an eye for excellence across many areas of life, including his yard and hedges. He hired a landscape service for some of the outside maintenance, but the hedges were his specialty, and only he could meet his own standards. One of his friends jokingly threatened to burn down the hedges because Devon was declining too many social invitations, saying, "Oh, I can't come because I need to trim the hedges." Devon loved flowers and gardening. Each week he went to Eastern Market and brought back bouquets to display in his home. Visitors always noticed the gorgeous fresh flower arrangement he kept in his entryway. He had recently installed a greenhouse in his backyard, designed as a replica of the one originally on the historic property. Devon always tended it himself and said that if he had another life, he would be a gardener. Devon loved his city and gave generously to the community in many ways. He often hosted a picturesque Christmas party that became a bit of a tradition in his neighborhood. As a board member of the Detroit Opera, he encouraged rising opera stars by hosting intimate concerts at his home. He was planning to host a fundraiser for the Fraternite Notre Dame on May 4, but the event had to be canceled due to his untimely death. Though Devon had many interests and demands on his time, his family and friends were always a priority. He rarely missed a Hoover family event and made the drive to Indiana frequently to visit his parents and sisters, often playing with his many nieces and nephews. He spent quality time with many friends and enjoyed traveling with them to unique places around the world. Devon's mother, Lauretta Hoover, passed away four days after his death. Devon is survived by his father, Clarence Hoover, Goshen, IN, and by six sisters, Diana (Andrew) Wenger, Goshen, IN; Lila (Wendell) Graber, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada; Linda (Lowell) Herschberger, Brooklyn, NY; Beth (Thad) Lechlitner, Middlebury, IN; Andrea (Jerald) Martin, Nappanee, IN; Laurie Hoover, Ephrata, PA; 22 nieces and nephews; and 8 great nieces and nephews. Donations can be made in Devon's honor to the Fraternite Notre Dame (www.fraternitenotredame.org) or the Detroit Opera (www.detroitopera.org). Devon was a gift from God, a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend. He touched many lives with his kindness and generosity. We all will miss him greatly. Friends may leave a memory at Verheyden.org