Clifton John Hopcus

Clifton John Hopcus (a.k.a. Cliff or Clifford) passed away on Friday, September 3, 2021 in Bryan, Texas. Clifton was born on October 26, 1936, in Marlin, TX to the late Floyd George Hopcus, Sr. and Rose Muzyka Hopcus.

Clifton served in the National Guard for 9.5 years.

On October 4, 1958, he married the love of his life, Veronica Szymanski in Bremond, TX. Clifton and Veronica raised their six children in Hearne, TX.

Clifton was born and raised in the Catholic faith and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hearne, TX. where his family attended Mass faithfully. Clifton was a member of the fourth degree in the Knights of Columbus for many years. He and his wife instilled the values of hard work and strong faith into their family.

While he worked his large gardens year-round, and many side jobs to support his large family, he worked at Hearne Verson Alsteel Manufacturing Company for 25 years and later in life, for the Calvert Independent School district for 9.5 years in maintenance, but he was best known to the students as being a great school bus driver. Clifton also worked maintenance for the Chamber of Commerce and Jentsch properties for many years.

Clifton enjoyed most, working in his large vegetable gardens, selling some and sharing the rest with family, friends and neighbors. He was also known around town as a carpenter and jack-of-all-trades. Clifton was multi-talented, self-taught to fix a car, a tractor, build a house, a barn, roof a house, wire a house, lay carpet and many many other handy-man and mechanical trades. His work can also be seen at the Camp Hearne WWII Historic Site and Exhibit as well as the Hearne Depot Railroad and History Museum, where he worked to help rebuild these city touring destinations and made repairs on many other downtown buildings.

Clifton is preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Rose Hopcus, brother Richard Hopcus, sisters Leona Hopcus, Betty Speer (husband Ceylon), Mary Hopcus; and son-in-law Timothy Moltz.

He is survived by his wife of sixty two years, Veronica Hopcus and four daughters, Charlene Moore (husband Patrick); Suzanne Moltz, Jeffery Hopcus (wife Ariana); Michael Hopcus; Janet Gonzales, Jennifer Reeder (husband Jay). He loved being Paw Paw to thirteen grandchildren: Kenny, Tony, Travis, Monica, Robert, Kendall, Emily, Kyle, Madison, Tyler, Allison, Brooke, and Kourtney; as well as three great grandsons: Archer, Eli, and August.  He left behind brothers Floyd Hopcus, Jr. (wife Gail) and Leon Hopcus (wife Bernandine); and sisters Joann Sapp (husband Jerry); Margaret Salsiccia (husband Don) and many nieces and nephews.

On Tuesday, September 7, the rosary will be at 4:30 p.m. at the Memorial Funeral Home and Crematorium in Hearne, TX., the viewing will follow from 5:00-6:00 p.m.   The funeral Mass will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hearne, TX. on Wednesday, September 8, at 10:00 a.m.  Father Ramon Fryna will officiate the Mass.