Paul Williams Hoover, junior, 67, of Little Rock, passed away on the morning of Saturday, December 19, 2009. Pete, as he was known by his many loved ones and friends, was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Elizabeth Lasley Hoover, and his father, Dr. Paul Williams Hoover, senior.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Josephine Rogers Hoover, his daughter, Josephine Lasley Hoover Felton, his son-in-law, Dr. Daniel Henry Felton IV, and his granddaughters, Catherine Josephine Felton and Mary Eleanor Felton. Pete also is survived by his sister, Marylee Lasley Hoover Robinson, and her husband, Dan R. Robinson II; his mother- and father-in-law, Josephine Raye Jackson and Doyle Wayne Rogers, senior; his brother-in-law and his wife, Carolyn Wilmans and Doyle Wayne “Rog” Rogers, junior; his nieces, Wendy Rogers Rasch and her husband Blane, Jennifer Rogers Beck and her husband Daniel, and Stacey Rogers Williams and her husband Cory; and his nephews, Dan R. Robinson III and his wife Linda, Lee Gatewood Robinson and his wife Susan, Gain Lasley Robinson and his wife Donna, Jackson Doyle Rogers and his wife Jyl, and Joseph Joel Rogers.

Born in Little Rock, on February 27, 1942, Pete’s family soon moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, where his father was a surgeon at Percy Jones Army Hospital and where his sister, Marylee, was born. Later, the Hoovers moved back to Little Rock where Pete attended Pulaski Heights Elementary School, Forest Park Elementary School, Pulaski Heights Junior High School, Forest Heights Junior High School, and Hall High School, where he played on the Hall High Warriors football team. In January 1958, Pete transferred to The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He graduated from McCallie in 1960. Pete spent many summers at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, where he learned to sail. Pete and his family were members of First United Methodist Church.

Pete attended Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He graduated in 1964 from Little Rock University, which is now the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, with a Bachelor of Science. In 1968, Pete graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law, where he was third in his graduating class and also served on the editorial board of the Arkansas Law Review. And in 1970, Pete received his LL.M. in Taxation from New York University.

In 1968, Pete met the love of his life, Barbara, on a date set up by his sister. Pete and Barbara married on September 6, 1969, in the First United Methodist Church in Batesville, Arkansas, and then moved to New York City, New York. Pete and Barbara returned to Little Rock in 1970 where he began the practice of law with Tom Lovett and Hubert Mayes.

In November 1975, Pete and Barbara’s daughter Josie was born. As a doting father, Pete enjoyed videotaping Josie’s hunter-jumper horse shows and even served as the announcer for many of the shows. For many summers, Pete looked forward to the closing ceremonies at Camp Waldemar for Girls, in Hunt, Texas, where Josie attended summer camp. He enjoyed being with Josie’s friends from Davidson College and the University of South Carolina School of Law, even entertaining them at his duck club.

Before joining Williams & Anderson in 2000, where he was an equity partner, Pete practiced law with the firms of Hoover, Jacobs & Storey and Giroir, Gregory, Holmes & Hoover. Pete had extensive experience in Tax and Banking Law. He was General Counsel to Metropolitan National Bank, served on its Board of Directors, and sat on its Trust Committee. In the area of real estate development, Pete was the lead lawyer in the development and construction of the Little Rock Convention Center and Arkansas’ Excelsior Hotel, now the Peabody Little Rock.

Pete was a member of the American Bar Association, Pulaski County Bar Association, and Arkansas Bar Association, where he served on the Investment Committee. He was listed in Best Lawyers in America under Corporate Law and Real Estate Law and in Chambers USA as a “Leader” in the fields of Corporate/Commercial and Real Estate Law.

Pete was a dedicated member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, where he served on the Board of Trustees. He also was a member of the Country Club of Little Rock. Pete served on the Board of Directors of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Foundation Fund, the Little Rock Visitor Foundation, and Fifty for the Future.

Pete was a devoted duck hunter. He was a former member of Cross Pond Duck Club and was a member of Two Slough Duck Club with his wonderful friends, Jim Engstrom, Dr. John Jones, Dr. Dean Kumpuris, and Dr. Drew Kumpuris. Pete loved to grow roses and a vegetable garden, from which he often made his famous pepper relish. He enjoyed snow skiing in Aspen, Snowmass, and Winter Park, Colorado.

Pete forever will be remembered for his quick wit, his ever-present smile, and his unending love for his many friends and family members. He will be missed greatly, especially by his granddaughters who fondly called him Papa Pete.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at Ruebel Funeral Home from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 23, 2009, at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, at 11:00 a.m. Burial services will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome

The family requests that memorials be made to the Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Foundation in memory of Pete Hoover, 4823 Woodlawn Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.