Grace Helen (Klay) Hogan

Grace Helen (Klay) Hogan of Hamilton, Ohio passed away in her sleep the morning of October 22,2024. Born on February 21, 1923, in Sardis, Ohio to the late Ernest and Lillian (Yoss) Klay, Grace was a graduate of Sardis High School in 1940. She was working at the glass factory in Paden City, WV when Pearl Harbor happened, the start of US involvement in WWII. In April 1942 she joined the National Youth Organization, learned sheet metaling and was then hired by Firestone Aircraft Company in Akron, Ohio to build wings for C-46 transport airplanes. Her father followed her and also worked at Firestone in Akron. In August 1944 she joined the Army as a WAC, completed boot camp at Fort Des Moines in Iowa and was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force. base in Dayton, Ohio. There she became friends with Rhoda Boggs who had learned to fly solo at the Hamilton Airport in Hamilton Ohio in the CAP program. After discharge in July 1946, she followed Rhoda to live with her parents, got a job, and both earned their private pilot licenses from Art Hogan using the GI bill. On October 4, 1947, she married Art and over the next 12 years had 8 children. She was hard working, devoted to her family, friends and community. After Art passed in 2000, she became active with the Hamilton Veterans group and along with her son Fred who was active duty in the Army, participated in Veterans events promoting women in military service, especially during WWII.  That continued for the rest of her life.

Grace is survived and cherished by 6 of her children, Dan (Candy) Hogan, Cliff Hogan, Tom (Marcia) Hogan, Fred (Sherry) Hogan, Julie (Rick) Hill, and Barb (Mike) Howell; 12 of her grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren with another due next month; and her in-laws, nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her husband Art Hogan (2000); sons Don Hogan (1967) and Joe Hogan (2012), grandson Joel Hogan (2024), her parents Ernest and Lillian (Yoss) Klay and siblings Roy Klay, Waldo Klay, Floyd Klay, Lester Klay and Irene (Merriner) Klay.

Her life was a gift to all who knew her.

Visitation will be Friday, November 1, 2024, at Brown Dawson Flick Funeral Home, 330 Pershing Ave. Hamilton, OH from 5PM to 7PM and again at St Julie’s Billiart Catholic Church on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 9AM to 10AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10AM at the church.  Burial will follow the Mass at the St Mary’s Cemetery in Hamilton.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Hamilton Community Foundation, American cancer society, ALS association or Parkinson’s foundation.