Dorothy Hogue

A celebration of life for Dorothy Steele Hogue, 95 of West Columbia, will be held at 11:30 am on Friday, May 25, 2012 at College Place United Methodist Church, with The Rev. Tiffany Knowlin and The Rev. Wiley B. Cooper. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service beginning at 10:30 am. Interment will follow at Southland Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to College Place Methodist Church., 4801 Colonial Drive, Columbia, SC 29203.

Dorothy Hogue died peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, May 22, 2012. She was born January 3, 1917, in Columbia, South Carolina, to Albert Steele and Blanche Furtick Steele. She resided in West Columbia during her early years, and was a graduate of Brookland Cayce High School.

Her first job was at the Woolworth’s Five & Dime in downtown Columbia. Employment opportunities with family lead Dot to Virginia for a job as a retail sales associate. In support of the WWII war effort, Dot took a job with Air Service Command, working in one of the airplane parts assembly plants in Ohio.

Upon completion of her stint in Ohio, she moved back to Columbia. Dot had always enjoyed fixing her family’s hair in unique styles, leading her to attend cosmetology school, and successfully obtaining her degree and Beautician’s License. After obtaining her license she accepted a position at Colette’s Salon. She and Colette developed a great friendship, and traveled parts of the East Coast, including New York City for several hair styling competitions. She was awarded a first prize in hair styling in 1948 in Columbia, SC

Dot married Ben Hogue in 1947 and they started their family in Columbia. Her desire to raise her children combined with her entrepreneurial spirit lead her to open her own beauty salon in 1951. Dot’s salon offered hairstyling services as well as a warm, heartfelt environment for her patrons until her retirement in 1994. After 43 years in business, many of her clients had become life long friends, and socialized together on numerous occasions.

At 80 years old Dot reignited her love of travel and made her dream to see the Holy Land come true, traveling to Jerusalem. For next 15 years she relished sharing her memories of this once in the lifetime experience.

She was known for her independence, wisdom, kindness, sense of humor, unfailing optimism, and endearing heart. She loved having her family gathered around her for any occasion, with holidays a favorite. Christmas, in particular, was the season that brought joy to her heart and Santa’s twinkle to her eyes. She enjoyed cooking and baking, garnering several blue ribbons for her pound cake entries at the SC State Fair. Also an avid gardener, she could hardly wait for spring to arrive and get her hands in the dirt, truly exercising her ‘green thumb’.

Dot was an active member of College Place United Methodist Church until her age and mobility prevented her from regular attendance. She was overjoyed to once again to be a part of her church family and friends as she celebrated her 90th birthday at the Fellowship Hall. She was a member of the McLeod – Guilds Sunday School Class, Leisure Club, and various church committees.

Dot often expressed gratitude for the long healthy life with which she had been blessed, quoting “It’s been a wonderful life.”

She is survived by her daughter, Julie Hogue McElveen and son-in-law, Dr. Frederick Judson McElveen, of Columbia, SC; and son, Robert Mitchell Hogue and daughter-in-law, Camala McCarter Hogue of Altamonte Springs, FL; grandchildren, Sandy McElveen and wife, Marianne, of Landrum SC, Meg McElveen of Walden, CO and Clay McElveen of Summerville, SC; as well as a number of beloved nieces and nephews. Mrs. Hogue was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ben Mitchell Hogue; and sisters, Gladys Kyzer, and Jacqueline Dunbar.

Dot’s family wishes to express their deep gratitude to Pam Dunbar, Doris Fletcher, Linda Hohnadel and Holly Yarborough for their loving care and devotion which allowed her to remain at home until the last seven months of her life.

The family would also like to thank the wonderful staff of NHC HealthCare, Lexington and especially the CNAs of Azalea Hall and Hospice Care of Tri-County for the kindness and comfort given to Dot and her family.