Donald Hoff Jr.

Donald "Snowball" F. Hoff Jr., 61, of Hixson, passed away on Monday, July 7, 2014, after a courageous five and half year battle with Kidney Cancer. He was born and raised in Ketchikan, Alaska, Don moved to Chattanooga in 1996 when he married Lookout Valley native Susan White. Don is from the Tlingit Nation of Southeast Alaska. He is a member of the Tongass Tribe, Gaan axi adi Clan, Raven House and Tlingit name is Aan Kadax Tseen, which means Happy Man in a Village. Don loved gardening, was an accomplished oil painter, enjoyed doing native beading and carving and the highlight of his older years was spending time with his grandchildren. During his life he worked many professions including serving our country in the United States Navy, working on the Alaska Pipeline, commercial fishing, Alaska State Trooper dispatcher, city council member in Ketchikan, OSHA president for state of Alaska, vice mayor of Ketchikan, Alaska, fisheries tech with the U.S. Forest Service and environmental tech with TVA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Don Sr. and Tillie Hoff; and brothers, John and Ross Hoff; father-in-law, David White Sr. Don is survived by his soul mate of 19 years, Susan White Hoff; daughters, Erica Hoff, Hixson, Lisa (Scott) Fisher, Wasilla, Alaska; son, Daniel Hoff, Eugene, Ore.; special niece, Kimberly (Don) Putnam, Decatur, Ill.; granddaughter, Audrey Hoff, Hixson; grandson, Asher Putnam, Decatur, Ill.; brothers, Kenneth (Sandi) Hoff and Jimmy (Charm) Hoff, Juneau, AK; sisters, Rosemary (Ernie) Ellison, Juneau, Alaska, Annie (Tom) Trudeau, Craig, Alaska, Darlene (Jeff) Armbruster, Paso Robles, Calif., and Linda (Steve) Hansen, Ketchikan, Alaska; mother and father-in-law, Charles and Libby Hamlin; sister-in-law, Cheryl Smith, all of Whitwell; brother-in-law, David (Carmen) White, Ider, Ala.; many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to Dr. Puzanov, Debbie Wallace and Pam Williamson of Vanderbilt and to mother-in-law, Libby White-Hamlin for helping care for him and his co-workers at TVA. The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. today, July 11, followed by a celebration of "Snowballs" life at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home. Don will be cremated and his ashes will be spread in Alaska on lands that held special meaning. Dons request is that no one wears black to his funeral. Wear bright colors and dont be sad, but celebrate the great life he had. Dons fight for years to live has set an example of how not to give up but to enjoy life even in the face of severe circumstances. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com. Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.