John Rand Hoopes died of cancer on September 14, 2023, at age 71. He passed away in his Chandler, Arizona home—the same home where he grew up and where his father’s farm was located many years before. John lived a full life and influenced many people both personally and professionally, and he will be deeply missed.
John was born on May 8, 1952, in Mesa, Arizona to John Sheldon and Ruth Lucille (Millet) Hoopes, who both preceded him in death. John was a loving husband and is survived by his wife of 43 years, Nancy Lytle Hoopes, who cared for him during his final months and days with complete devotion. He was also a caring and fun-loving father and grandfather and is survived by his 4 children, Jonathan (Tonya), Charlotte (Jared), Christopher, and Michael (Laura); and 12 grandchildren, Charles, Ira, Harper, Chelsea, Hudson, Chandler, Harmony, Hampton, Karl, Haleigh, Charlotte, and Maren. The fourth of five children, John is also survived by his brother, Douglas, and sisters, Judy Hamilton, Cindy Bryant, and Nancy Killian. Beyond his family, John is both survived and preceded in death by many dear friends, many of whom he kept since childhood and who loved him for his intelligence, sense of humor, and adventurous nature.
John had many hobbies throughout his life. As a boy he played baseball and golf, and over the years he developed and pursued many more passions and projects, including flying small planes, sailing, ranching, and restoring a rustic ranch house. John also enjoyed fishing, operating heavy machinery, building and fixing things, taking road trips, and traversing dirt roads all over Arizona. He loved camping and spending time in places like Black River, the Grand Canyon, and the lakes and rivers of the Apache reservation. John treasured being an Arizonan, and some of his happiest days were spent in the White Mountains and at the Government Spring Ranch in Pinal County. John was also an avid reader and especially enjoyed reading histories of pioneers, the American southwest, and South America, as well as biographies of presidents and other historic figures.
A graduate of Mesa High School, John served in the Buenos Aires mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before receiving a BA from Brigham Young University in 1975 and a law degree from the University of Arizona in 1979. John was selected to serve a two-year federal court judicial clerkship following graduation, and then practiced law with Phoenix law firm Mohr, Hackett until 1998, when he helped found the law firm Hoopes, Adams & Alexander in Chandler, where he practiced for many more years. During his law career, John also served as a judge pro tem in the Maricopa County Superior Court Arizona Court of Appeals. In 2010, John was elected as SRP’s vice president, a position he held until his passing. Prior to serving as vice president, he was on the SRP Council from 1997 through 2006, ultimately serving as its chairman. He loved his work at SRP and carrying on the legacy of both his father and great-grandfather, who served on the SRP board and council before him. John also owned and helped operate a family cattle ranch for over 15 years—the same ranch that his aunt and uncle owned many years earlier and which his own father visited as a boy.
Throughout his career, John served on the boards of many community-oriented organizations, including the Southwest Museum Foundation, the Valley of the Sun United Way, the Arizona Mexico Commission, the Phoenix Zoo, Valleywise Health Foundation, and ICAN. In addition, John served in many capacities in his church, and especially enjoyed the years he spent working with the Boy Scouts. Beyond these formal roles, John was a friend, advocate, and mentor to many throughout his life and career.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, October 6, 2023, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2252 W. Mesquite St., Chandler, AZ 85224.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the causes important to John: Valleywise Health Foundation, ICAN, the Phoenix Zoo, or Chicanos por la Causa.
Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
I’m saddened to hear of John’s passing. Hugs and prayers to Nancy and his children. I have many fond memories of sitting in ward counsel next to him and chatting with him. As a convert, I was grateful for his insight on the meaning behind Gospel principles as me and my family learned them. He really was a great man.
Our love and prayers pour out to Nancy and the family. I’ll be forever grateful for a lifelong friendship with Randy. Funniest guy I’ve ever known. Speaking for the Continental Brothers, he will be missed!
Thoughts and prayers to the Hoopes family in the passing of John. I greatly enjoyed working with John from 2010 to March of 2017, the year of my retirement from SRP. He always was looking out for the best for SRP in his role as Vice-President.
Randy was a best friend since high school. His dry sense of humor was incredible. I will miss the regular lunches that i looked forward to. He could make anyone laugh. At our last lunch, it was an extremely sad serious discussion where he spoke of his painful longing to be here for more time for Nancy, Jonathan, Charlotte, Christopher, Michael, and grandchildren. May peace and comfort come to his family that he loved and cared so much for.
I have been saddened to hear about Randy. Randy and I started playing about when we about 5 or 6 years old. My father was ranch and farm manager for 40 years for Randy’s Dad. Good times memories you can’t erase. I will always love all of the Hoopes family. It was about year of 1959 Randy, Keith Layton, myself Gary l Perry and Vinson Dobson would play together at the farm .. good times . Gary Perry
Our condolences to Nancy, the children and family members of Randy. He was a good man and he will be missed by his family so very much. I loved listening him tell of his boyhood and farming the land where our home, Amberwood community, Sirrine and the church now stand. When I was working to have a neighborhood block watch organized Randy wrote a beautiful history of this area. He was happy to do it and he was very knowledgeable of the beginnings of Chandler. I loved his mother Lucille and his dad Shy. May you be comforted during this difficult time.
Our condolences to Nancy, the children and family members of Randy. He was a good man and he will be missed by his family so very much. I loved listening him tell of his boyhood and farming the land where our home, Amberwood community, Sirrine and the church now stand. When I was working to have a neighborhood block watch organized Randy wrote a beautiful history of this area. He was happy to do it and he was very knowledgeable of the beginnings of Chandler. I loved his mother Lucille and his dad Shy. May you be comforted during this difficult time.