Dean Hart

Dean L. Hart, Sr.

Mr. Dean L. Hart, Sr. 66, of Monroe LA, passed away on Thursday, January 24, 2013.

Dean Sr., was born October 17, 1946 in Monroe LA to the union of John and Lois Hart.

He married "his high school sweetheart and love of his life" Melissa Ann Hanks on June 30, 1967.

Dean's career started with his first job, at the age of 16, during his high-school years, working for Fred Parrish Texaco Station on the corner of Louisville Ave and 18th Street in Monroe LA. He took this job to support his ailing mother and grandmother. Mrs. Parrish was so very good to Deanny and taught him many life lessons. After starting college, at Northeast Louisiana University, Deanny realized he would have to leave his comfort zone and regrettably, Mrs. Parrish.

Back then, you didn't have a career choice. You applied for a job, if you got it, well then this was your career. Dean took a job at Goodyear Tire and Appliance Store. By his third year he had been promoted to the highest position, store manager. After that, he set nationwide records for top producing stores and he held these honors for two straight years. These records still hold today.

After accomplishing his goals with Goodyear, he took a big leap of faith and in 1973 he opened Dean Hart's Tire and Appliance. This started his love for "being his own boss". At this time he found a love for real estate developing and became an expert builder. His first development was building-out a whole corner which included a restaurant, a beauty shop, a trophy store, and Dean Hart's Tire and Appliances. When asked why, he always said, "To keep 'em all here in West Monroe and to help the ladies have their needs met. While they are having their children's trophies engraved, they can exercise, then have their hair fixed and be fresh to go out to eat". During this span, he won many awards and was recognized nationally for his accomplishments. His motto was "build it and they will come". Dean sold his tire and appliance store in 1980 and shifted his energy and talent into commercial real estate and commercial construction. He coined the motto "one stop shopping for all real estate and construction services."

Dean's first love in business was the 'art of making a deal'. From designing and constructing a distribution center for a major company like FedEx Corporation or a local office building, he loved putting people in new buildings and loved creating jobs. He had an eye for spotting a diamond in the rough and for turning raw land or an older existing building into Class A real estate. He always said "God don't make no more land."

Dean's family always came first. He had a passion for his hobbies which included competition trap shooting. He had a great appreciation for history and artifacts related to history and historical events.

Dean always said he came into this life holding Ann's hand in one hand and a social security card in the other. Dean died doing what he loved, which was working. He had just finalized a Real Estate deal and was so excited that he had put that deal to bed and was ready to move on to the next "new deal."

Dean was preceded in death by his parents John Hart and Lois Hart, mother-in-law Marion Hanks, father-in-law A.D. Hanks, his beloved sister-in-law Bunny Wallace, and his brother Johnny Lenard.

Dean is survived by his wife of 44 years and the love of his life Ann Hanks Hart, and their Precious Shih Tzu Kassie Girl Sassie Hart. A rare find, they started dating at the age of 16 and never looked back. He is also survived by his sons, Dean L. Hart, Jr. and Cory Hanks Hart. Granddaughters Lily Arianna Hart, Caroline Kay Hart and Laura Melissa Centola. Niece and nephews Laura Liner Centola and husband Lyle, James Conway Liner, IV and wife Leah and Jeffery Hanks Liner. Great nephews James Conway Liner, V and L. Jordan Centola.

Pallbearers are Dr. Ronnie Woods, Jerry 'Jeep' Sanders, Billy R. Golson, Raymond Stewart, W.B. 'Bill" Nelson, Jr., and William H. Hallack, Jr.

Honorary pallbearers are the members of the T. O. Bancroft Memorial Gun Club, Board of Directors and employees of Community Trust Bank, all employees, subcontractors, vendors and building tenants of all Hart Affiliated Companies.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to the First United Methodist Church of West Monroe for the Dean Hart Fund for the Louisiana Methodist Children's Home, 1411 Glenwood Drive, West Monroe, LA 71291. Memorials may also be made to the charity of your choice and to the T.O. Bancroft Memorial Gun Club.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 1, 2013 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at First United Methodist Church on Glenwood Drive in West Monroe LA.

A private burial will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2013 with Rev. Jon Tellifero and Rev. Ricky Willis officiating under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home West Monroe, LA.

Online Registry/ Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com

Mulhearn Funeral Home

West Monroe, LA