May 29, 1946 – August 9, 2026

Marshall Wayne Hoover, 80, passed away at his daughter’s home in High Ridge, Missouri, on August 9, 2026, following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Beverly Hoover; his daughter, Monica McFarland and her husband, Eric; his son, Barrett Hoover; his grandchildren, Brennen Lummus and his wife, Macey, Savannah Lummus and her longtime partner, Robert Boesch, Jeremy Lummus, Zoey Gibson, and Harlow Hoover; and his great-grandchild, Stetton Lummus. He was preceded in death by his son, Derek Hoover; his parents, Walter and Elizabeth Hoover; and his brother, Ronald Hoover.

Preferring to go by his middle name, Wayne was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He attended Ball State University in Muncie, where he met the love of his life, Bev. During college breaks, a young Wayne could sometimes be found making the trip on his motorcycle to visit Bev in her hometown of Hamlet, Indiana. They married on August 27, 1966, when they were just 20 and 19 years old. Wayne was active in Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and made lifelong friends during his years at Ball State.

Wayne earned a B.S. in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology, from Ball State in 1968. He began his career as a fourth-grade teacher before returning to Ball State, where he earned an M.A. in Clinical Psychology in 1972. That same year, Wayne joined the Department of Psychology at Southeast Missouri State University, beginning what he would later call a “wonderful forty-one year run.” He retired as an Associate Professor of Psychology on January 1, 2014.

While teaching at Southeast, Wayne continued his education at Southern Illinois University, completing 77 hours of doctoral study in Applied Experimental Psychology. He also conducted research, published with colleagues, consulted on research and program evaluation, and taught everything from general psychology to statistics and research methods.

But Wayne truly loved his job educating students. His office was an extension of him, with a comfortable chair, books, art and an entire door plastered with The Far Side comics. His door was always open, and he wove stories from his own life into his lessons in ways that resonated with students. He was also known to tell them that if they woke up and the sun was shining and the day seemed better suited for being outside, they should just skip class and enjoy it.Wayne’s teaching left an impression. In 2003, he received the College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Teaching Award. That same year, without his knowledge, colleagues, friends and former students raised more than $13,000 to establish a scholarship in his honor. First awarded in 2004, it continues today as the M. Wayne Hoover Endowed Scholarship in Psychology at Southeast Missouri State University—a fitting legacy for someone who spent 41 years teaching and encouraging students.

Cape Girardeau became home for Wayne and Bev and the place where they raised their three children, Monica, Derek and Barrett. They bought an old Victorian fixer-upper and made it their own, tearing down walls, installing old barn beams and taking on what seemed like an endless series of remodeling projects. Eventually Wayne had a two-story shed built in the backyard with a workshop downstairs and bunk room upstairs. A sign on the outside appropriately declared it “Wayne’s World.”

Wayne was an amazing and hands-on father. With nearly 14 years separating his oldest and youngest, he raised three children during very different stages of his own life. When Monica attended elementary school on the SEMO campus in the same building where he worked, he taught her to cross the busy streets and walk to school, with Dad always close by. He took Taekwondo alongside Derek and found his own ways of connecting with each of his children. He encouraged them to work and become independent, but was also usually good for a little extra money and occasionally willing to keep something from Mom when the situation called for it.

Life at the Hoover house often revolved around food, friends and whatever project Wayne and Bev had going at the time. They grew vegetables and herbs and, for a time, shared an acre of garden space with friends. Bev, a self-taught gourmet cook, introduced Wayne to a world of food he had never known growing up, and together they developed a lifelong love of good food and wine. Dinner parties were frequent: Wayne handled the meat and the grill, Bev prepared the rest of the meal and set a beautiful table, and friends regularly filled the house. Many of those friends became family.

Wayne and Bev also believed in traveling while they were young enough to enjoy it rather than waiting for retirement. Sometimes that meant leaving the kids behind with trusted friends while they headed off somewhere much more interesting. Their travels took them throughout Europe and to China, Canada, Mexico and Alaska, along with cruises and other adventures. They loved art, music, history and experiencing other cultures. Wayne later encouraged his grandchildren to travel young as well—to see the world before life’s responsibilities became too heavy and to make time for the memories.

Wayne was an avid exerciser throughout much of his life, swimming, working out at the Show Me Center and regularly running three miles through Cape Girardeau. In his younger years, with his mustache and athletic build, he bore more than a passing resemblance to Magnum P.I.—so much so that Barrett once referred to Tom Selleck as “Daddy on TV.” His children also heard plenty over the years about their father running around Cape Girardeau in the remarkably tiny running shorts of the era. He ran 5Ks and even completed a few triathlons.

Retirement suited Wayne just fine. Despite loving his career, he readily admitted that he did not miss working. He kept up with longtime friends, stayed active at the gym and in the pool until neck and back problems slowed him down, and read constantly. His Kindle was rarely far away. A boring shopping trip? Wayne was perfectly happy to find a bench and read until everyone else was finished.

Wayne and Bev were also devoted to their Border Collies over the years. Bishop, O’Malley, Muffy and Sophie were very much part of the family, and walking the dogs was part of everyday life.

In their later years, Wayne and Bev left Cape Girardeau and moved to Eureka, Missouri, to be closer to family. There they became members of St. Francis’ Episcopal Church and remained connected to the church even when getting there became difficult.

Of all the things Wayne valued, few compared with his love for Bev. They married at just 19 and 20 years old and were true soulmates, rarely spending time apart throughout nearly 60 years of marriage. Wayne died just 18 days before what would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. Their relationship was admired by those who knew them, and the life they built together was filled with family, friendships, travel, good food, laughter and countless shared experiences.

During his final weeks receiving hospice care at his daughter’s home, Wayne had time to reflect on his life and expressed that he had no regrets. He faced death without fear, at peace knowing his family would be okay and comforted by the thought of being reunited with his son, Derek.

Wayne knew he had been fortunate. His life had been filled with meaningful work, extraordinary experiences, enduring friendships, children and grandchildren he loved deeply and, above all, nearly 60 years with the love of his life.

A memorial service celebrating Wayne’s life will be held on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis’ Episcopal Church, 602 Rockwood Arbor Drive, Eureka, Missouri 63025. Interment of Wayne’s ashes in the church’s Memorial Garden will follow the service, with a luncheon afterward in the church’s community room.

Those wishing to honor Wayne’s memory may send flowers or make a memorial contribution to St. Francis’ Episcopal Church or the Alzheimer’s Association.