Jefferson Sims Hooten

Jeff, "Hoot", 47, flew his last flight June 15, 2014 and spent Father's Day with his Heavenly Father. No parent should outlive a child, nor should a child lose a father so soon. But when God calls one home, we don't question His wisdom. The hundreds of posts on Jeff's facebook attest to the scripture, "Well done, good and faithful servant". Jeff has been flying hot air balloons from New Mexico to Pennsylvania and from Canada to the Cayman Islands. It is hard for us to be without him, but his passion was giving others a glimpse of the heavens from a hot air balloon. We praise God for his faith, for the lives he touched and for the ten passengers that he brought down to safety on Father's Day. He is loved by his parents, Bill and Phyllis Hooten; sister Kay Hooten Ostrom, her husband Dan; nephew's Andy and Noah Ostrom. His children Taryn Schlegel, 26, and her husband Kevin, Jefferson Hooten, 20, MacKenzie Hooten, 18. He has two grandchildren, Jayden and Kadie Schlegel. He is also survived by his Aunt Margaret Zimmerman, her husband Richard and cousins Rick and Phil Zimmerman families. His memorial service will be held Friday, June 20, 2014 at 2:30pm at Hoffmantown Church, 8888 Harper Dr. NE, Alb, NM. JSH&MLH Scholarship Fund established at Wells Fargo Bank, Sam Maes, Acct. Executor (505) 280-9458.