OLIVE ANN HOFF

OLIVE ANN ROSS HOFF September 15, 1923-June 1, 2009 Olive was born and raised on the Central Coast of California in Southern San Luis Obispo County. She was born in a small house on Allen Street in the town of Arroyo Grande. Olive knew all the of the real old timers around Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, Oceano, Nipomo, Santa Maria and the surrounding areas and, of course, Halcyon. If you wanted to know who did what to whom and when and where the bodies were buried Olive was a living breathing historical society all unto herself. To her anyone who came to the area after 1950 was a newcomer. Olive went to school in a little school house; she had three older brothers; her father was a real cowboy who drove cows from the area out to the high desert on horseback. Two of her brothers were ranchers in the area and in Northern California. Her dad operated a dairy, and she delivered milk from a horse drawn wagon. When WWII got going Olive had just graduated from Arroyo Grande High School where she played softball and played trombone in the school's marching band as well as the concert and dance bands. Olive married Russell Hoff in 1943. When Russell returned from Europe when the war ended, they settled down in Halcyon. During the war Olive taught P.E. and later drove a school bus, worked in the attendance office and was the truant officer. Many folks recall that an absence would frequently draw a visit to their home or a phone call and that Olive excelled in finding where they had gone to ground. She also worked for the Loomis Feed Company where she worked in the warehouse while men were at war and at times held three jobs including working in the fields on weekends. Later, she worked for the Loomis Insurance Company where she retired in 1985 at which time she and Russell relocated to Weaverville for several years. After Russell passed away, Olive returned to Halcyon where she lived several years. Next she moved to Santa Maria with her friend David Scott. In 2007 Olive moved with David to Oregon where he had gotten a job. Olive was a sports nut; she especially followed basketball. The range and depth of her knowledge of teams, players, coaches and their back stories was truly phenomenal. She could have easily provided some very original and insightful "color commentary" for the NBA. Olive was also a bit of a car nut and she liked nice cars. Her last one was a pick-up truck; she said she chose it because she was tired of looking out the window and seeing hubcaps. Olive was a universally liked and loved person. She was a true friend and a loving person. Although Olive never had children, she had many who called her Mom whom she cherished every bit as much as if they had been her own. She is survived by two nephews, Gary and Lee Ross, a niece Wendy Ross Beye, her friend and companion David Scott whom she called "son" and David Richardson her foster son and many other unofficial grandkids. There will be a Memorial Celebration of Life held at The Temple of the People in Halcyon on Saturday June 20th at 2:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers Olive would have preferred a donation to any organization which assists animals.