Spencer Clayton Hoover

Spencer Clayton Hoover September 3, 1982 – August 19, 2025

Spencer Clayton Hoover, 42, of Lake Butler, Florida, passed away on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. He was born in Gainesville, Florida, to Roger and Rebecca Hoover, and grew up with a deep love for family, nature, and creative exploration.

Spencer was a passionate son, husband, father, stepfather, brother, and friend. He is survived by his newlywed wife, Amy Denman Hoover, his children, Spencer Hoover II and Lillian Hoover of Detroit, and his stepson, Logan Sparrow. He is also survived by his father and stepmother, Roger and Cathy Hoover of Lake Butler, mother, Rebecca Hoover of Alachua, a brother, Griffin Hoover and his wife, Terri, along with their son, Liam, of Davisburg, MI, and his stepbrother, Brian Smith of Lake Butler.

Spencer was a man of creativity and depth. He loved the complexities of the human soul and more than anything he loved people, most of all his wife Amy, whom he respected and protected at all cost. They spent just over three years together laughing, exploring, and truly living life to the fullest and falling deeply in love with each other’s nuances and sharing endless rabbit-hole conversations. They had each finally found their perfect person who understood, appreciated, and loved them for ALL that they were. They also shared in the pursuit of Christ and celebrated Spencer’s new salvation. Spencer loved music, had a beautiful voice and incredible talent for producing music, a venture he explored not only by himself, but also in collaboration with his brother and musicians from around the world under the name Corrupt Clay. He loved gardening, car modification, traveling, and finding peace in the quiet of nature.

Spencer’s life was marked by service, vision, and passion. He proudly served his country as an infantry sergeant with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. He completed two deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq in the years following 9/11. He earned six medals and combat patches before being honorably discharged in January 2006 due to injuries from a training jump. During this time, he also earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Troy University. He later went on to earn two master’s degrees in business administration and finance from Penn State.

Spencer built a distinguished career in healthcare administration and finance. He worked with Millennium Bank and PCE Investment Bankers before dedicating his talents to healthcare reform. He served as Associate Director at the UF Cancer Center, UF Pediatric Division Administrator, System Vice President and Executive Director at the Henry Ford Cancer Institute, where he led the design and implementation of the Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion. He was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to a nine-member Michigan Veterans’ Facility Authority Board in March 2017, overseeing long-term care facilities for Michigan’s Veterans. His appointment was backed by a combination of his veteran status, and healthcare/finance expertise, with Senate confirmation and a four-year term. He worked for Aetna in network strategy and performance, developing contracts for ER diversion. Most recently, he was a “Healthcare Growth Catalyst” developing an innovative approach to healthcare that could change the way that we look at healthcare and our own health. Known for his innovative spirit and commitment to people, he often described his mission as “making healthcare suck less.” His ideas, energy, and vision for a better healthcare system will be carried on by those who recognized his brilliance, passion, and the reality of his vision.

Spencer’s memory will live on in the lives of those he loved most and the many people whose lives were touched by his work, his kindness, and his unwavering dedication to making the world better.

A service will be held at Lake Butler Church of Christ on Saturday, August 30 at 1pm, with a full procession to a graveside service with military honors at Elzey Chapel Cemetery. We will then gather back at the church dining hall for a meal to celebrate his life and share stories. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to StopSoldierSuicide.org or Wounded Warrior Project. 

Archer-Milton Funeral Home is honored to serve Amy and the rest of the Hoover family during this difficult time. 386-496-2008 www.archerfuneralhome.com