Anonymous
Dear Hoff Family,
Jim and my dad, Leland Merz, were life long friends. They knew each other for over 80 years, attending Franklin, Jason Lee and Stadium as classmates. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor they enlisted in the Navy and entered bootcamp together in Bremerton. Jim was the "Best Man" when my parents were married on March 20, 1943, in Houston, Texas. Later when I was born in 1955, I was named for Jim's older brother, Leslie Wayne Hoff. In later years my dad and mom (Geri) introduced Jim to Samalee Jones, and quite an enduring friendship grew. Both Jim and Samalee brought a great deal of joy and happiness into each other's lives, and for that matter, into my parent's lives too, as the four of them spent a great deal of time together. In 2008 following surgery, my dad suffered a stroke and began to pass away over an 11 week period. Without fail several times a week Jim and Samalee would come to visit my dad and mom. Their visits meant the world to me, my sister, Mary-Lee, my brother, Andy and of course, my mom. Jim was a constant source of comfort as he told stories from the good ol' days on Adams Street. He said that on most mornings "we use to go over to Lee's house just so that we could watch him eat 4 bowls of Wheaties and read the funny papers." Needless to say, my dad treasured his close friendship and bond with not only Jim, but with all of the Hoff brothers.
Jim was a special man and epitomized "the greatest generation." I will dearly miss him. Please accept my most sincere and heartfelt condolences on the passing of such a wonderful friend and no doubt, a wonderful father, grandfather and uncle too.
With kind regards,
Les Merz##imported-begin##Leslie "Les" Wayne Merz##imported-end##