The Rev. Clarence James (C.J.) Hogan was born June 26, 1916 near Enterprise to the Rev. Jessie L. Hogan and Letha B. Rudd Hogan.
Having been an outstanding football player and an excellent math student, he graduated from Red Level High School in 1934.
On March 15, 1936 he married his high school sweetheart, Carrie Watkins Costen, and they have been together for 78 years.
During World War II he served his country as a Navy radioman in the Pacific Campaign aboard LST 863, with the last engagement being in Okinawa.
After the war he returned to Alabama where he worked in sales. In 1957 he moved his family to Bay Minette where he opened a furniture store.
For many years he and his family were active in First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, Sunday school director and training union director. In 1974 he was ordained into the ministry with his father participating in the ceremony.
After retiring from Hogan’s Home Furnishings, he continued to pastor in 10 Baptist churches in Baldwin, Monroe and Escambia counties for many years.
He loved playing dominoes, holding his wife’s hand and feeding the birds.
He is survived by his wife, Carrie Costen Hogan; sister, Betty Sue Mitchell (Jay); his four children, Jeanette Beisner (Bob), Don Hogan (Heike), Carrie Ann Hare (Ralph) and Kathleen Ingram (Eddie); nine grandchildren; and 11 great- grandchildren.
The family’s deepest thanks go to the staffs at Magnolia Place in Auburn and St. Martin’s in the Pines in Birmingham for the exceptional and compassionate care they have shown.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, from 10-11 a.m., at First Baptist Church in Bay Minette. The funeral service will begin at 11, followed by interment in Bay Minette Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be given to First Baptist Church in Bay Minette, or your favorite charity.
Arrangements by Norris Funeral Home, Bay Minette.
