He was born May 9, 1949 in Melrose, Massachusetts, the son of Howard Hooker and Virginia (Sweezey) Hackett.
He graduated from Mt. Hermon High School in MA, then he attended Hiram College in Ohio and then the Bangor Theological Seminary in Bangor.
His passion was raising sheep but he also worked as a dairyman for Milton Henshaw in Canaan for 5 years taking care of big and small animals. He milked twice a day and did whatever was needed to be done on the farm. He also did artificial insemination for the cows. He worked in radio sales traveling the state selling advertising. In the last couple of years he worked for Lowe’s in Augusta.
Growing up, Jeff was a Boy Scout. Later he was a member of the Maine Sheep Breeder's Association. Jeff enjoyed camping in his younger days and loved to spend time in the woods. He enjoyed following the Cleveland Browns. He also loved trying new recipes and was a very good cook.
Besides his wife Carolyn of 32 years of Detroit; he is survived by his sister Barbara Whittemore and her husband Danny of South Paris; step siblings, Brenda Coleman, Joann Hutchinson, Barry Hackett, sister in-law Linda Hooker of Oxford; nieces and nephews, Lana, Kelly, Bruce, Bethany, Michael and Peter; numerous great-nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his mother and father; two brothers, James Hooker and Richard Michael Hooker.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday January 27, 2019 at 1 p.m. at the Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine.
Donations may be made in his memory to a charity of one’s choice.