Obituary: Leonard McClean Hoyt

Leonard McClean Hoyt, 90, passed away on May 17, 2013 at McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah, having suffered a fall secondary to Parkinson’s.

Leonard was born Feb. 6, 1923, to John Schuyler and Ruth Williams Hoyt in Fort Collins. He was raised in Fort Collins and Gunnison and graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1943.

He was a WWII veteran having entered in the military in June 1943. Leonard was in Air Ordinance in the 2017th Ordinance Maintenance Battallion as a Sargent. He served in the South Pacific Theatre and in Okinawa, Japan. When he returned from the service he attended Colorado A&M in Fort Collins for 2 years.

He joined Western Geophysical in 1948, beginning a 37-year career that would take him around the world three times as an instrument specialist for seismograph crews. He did offshore work for many years, living in 10 different countries and then working in 13 states in the U.S. One of his favorite places to live was Italy, having lived in Toronto, Pescara, Venice and Rome. He was one of a few who had actually been to Timbuktu, Africa. He loved the crews he worked with and made lifelong friends with whom he was still in contact. He retired in 1985 to Fort Collins where he cared for his father until he passed away in 1989.

Leonard built airplanes and liked to fly fish and hunt. He enjoyed midget auto racing, NASCAR, and liked to fix electronic instruments. He loved good music and Audrey Hepburn. He was known for his storytelling, boisterous laugh, blue eyes and as a merciless tease. He sought family as an avid genealogist and loved nothing better than family parties.

Leonard is survived by his sister, Betty Hoyt Andrews (Don); nieces, Bonnie Andrews Young (John), who he has lived next door to for the last two years, and Robin Hoyt Foote (Jeff); nephews, Donald M. Andrews, David L. Andrews (Teri), John R. Hoyt (Sue), and Kevin Hoyt. He is also survived by three great nephews, 10 great nieces, and three great-great nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Robert Vern Hoyt.

Funeral services were held on June 1 at Resthaven Funeral Home in Fort Collins. Interment was at Resthaven Memory Gardens.

Our special thanks go out to the emergency personnel with Honeyville and Brigham City ambulance, Bear River Hospital, Life Flight and McKay Dee Hospital. Also our deep gratitude to the aides from Ali’s Angels who cared for Leonard and loved and supported him. He will be greatly missed by many.

In memorium, please go on a picnic with your family and have a good laugh.