Obituary for Travis Ross Hart
TRAVIS “ROSS” HART
Beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather Travis “Ross” Hart returned to his Heavenly Father at midnight, 29 December 2020. Born 27 May 1942 in Oildale, CA to Travis Warren and Virginia Mary Ross Hart, dad was a lifelong resident of greater Bakersfield. A great rocking horse rider as a child, dad came to be known as Rocky growing up. Dad attended North High School, graduating in 1960 after serving as Student Body President. He loved his class reunions, including the mini reunions they had for several years because he really cared about his classmates. He got his AA from BC, his BA from BYU, and finally his MA from Pepperdine University.
After a few youthful years in the grape packing sheds, Dad followed his calling to become a teacher, first in Lamont, then Shafter, then at Foothill High School. Retiring after 36 years in the classroom and as a swimming and soccer coach, dad tried but couldn't enjoy a leisurely retirement. So, he gave another six years to teaching at Wasco Correctional Facility. There, he continued to change lives as he had done in the high schools.
Students accepted his strict classroom management because they knew he believed in their potential. A high school junior once told Dad that he was the first teacher that treated her like she could learn. Innumerable students shared similar stories of how Dad changed their lives for the better which happened often when dad ran into former students.
Dad rarely met a person he did not like. In fact, aside from occasional road reproval, Dad impressed us by the way he always spoke in superlatives about others. Did dad meet only superlative people, or did he have a happy optimism about others that some of us lack? Certainly, the later.
In 1965, Dad married Bonnie Beebe. During their 27 years of marriage, they raised four wonderful children.
In 1998, Dad met and married the love of his life, LaNell Thornton, winning her with his humor. They enjoyed twenty-two years together.
After retirement Dad resumed his hobby of riding motorcycles. He loved the sense of freedom riding gave him.
For the last eight years of his life, Dad suffered from multiple ailments, including diabetes and dementia. We are most grateful to LaNell and many friends and doctors who dedicated themselves to helping him through his last difficult years.
Dad loved animals, especially his orange tabby Sunny. Sunny gave Dad great comfort on days when his illness was particularly acute. Dad would be displeased if we failed to mention that he was preceded in death by his beloved Sunny.
Dad was also preceded in death by his nephew John B Bigby, III, his father, “Chief” Hart, and his mother, Virginia Hart. Dad is survived by his wife, LaNell, children Ross (Mari) Hart of Saint George, UT; Kelly (Monty) Moshier of Mesa, AZ, John (Janna) Hart of Bakersfield, CA, Lisa (Adam) Hamblin of Hooper, UT, stepchildren Darielle (Lee) Hunt of Houston, TX, and William Thornton of Dallas, TX, twenty grandchildren, four step grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren, two step great grandchildren, his sister Janet (Ruben) Rivera, and niece Jill Bigby.
A viewing will be held at Greenlawn Mortuary on River Road on Friday, January 8 from 4-8PM. Graveside service will be Saturday at 10AM at the same location
Beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather Travis “Ross” Hart returned to his Heavenly Father at midnight, 29 December 2020. Born 27 May 1942 in Oildale, CA to Travis Warren and Virginia Mary Ross Hart, dad was a lifelong resident of greater Bakersfield. A great rocking horse rider as a child, dad came to be known as Rocky growing up. Dad attended North High School, graduating in 1960 after serving as Student Body President. He loved his class reunions, including the mini reunions they had for several years because he really cared about his classmates. He got his AA from BC, his BA from BYU, and finally his MA from Pepperdine University.
After a few youthful years in the grape packing sheds, Dad followed his calling to become a teacher, first in Lamont, then Shafter, then at Foothill High School. Retiring after 36 years in the classroom and as a swimming and soccer coach, dad tried but couldn't enjoy a leisurely retirement. So, he gave another six years to teaching at Wasco Correctional Facility. There, he continued to change lives as he had done in the high schools.
Students accepted his strict classroom management because they knew he believed in their potential. A high school junior once told Dad that he was the first teacher that treated her like she could learn. Innumerable students shared similar stories of how Dad changed their lives for the better which happened often when dad ran into former students.
Dad rarely met a person he did not like. In fact, aside from occasional road reproval, Dad impressed us by the way he always spoke in superlatives about others. Did dad meet only superlative people, or did he have a happy optimism about others that some of us lack? Certainly, the later.
In 1965, Dad married Bonnie Beebe. During their 27 years of marriage, they raised four wonderful children.
In 1998, Dad met and married the love of his life, LaNell Thornton, winning her with his humor. They enjoyed twenty-two years together.
After retirement Dad resumed his hobby of riding motorcycles. He loved the sense of freedom riding gave him.
For the last eight years of his life, Dad suffered from multiple ailments, including diabetes and dementia. We are most grateful to LaNell and many friends and doctors who dedicated themselves to helping him through his last difficult years.
Dad loved animals, especially his orange tabby Sunny. Sunny gave Dad great comfort on days when his illness was particularly acute. Dad would be displeased if we failed to mention that he was preceded in death by his beloved Sunny.
Dad was also preceded in death by his nephew John B Bigby, III, his father, “Chief” Hart, and his mother, Virginia Hart. Dad is survived by his wife, LaNell, children Ross (Mari) Hart of Saint George, UT; Kelly (Monty) Moshier of Mesa, AZ, John (Janna) Hart of Bakersfield, CA, Lisa (Adam) Hamblin of Hooper, UT, stepchildren Darielle (Lee) Hunt of Houston, TX, and William Thornton of Dallas, TX, twenty grandchildren, four step grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren, two step great grandchildren, his sister Janet (Ruben) Rivera, and niece Jill Bigby.
A viewing will be held at Greenlawn Mortuary on River Road on Friday, January 8 from 4-8PM. Graveside service will be Saturday at 10AM at the same location