Henry Hugh McElroy, Jr. went to be with our Heavenly Father on March 25, 2017. He passed peacefully in his sleep, free of pain. He was born February 24, 1932 in Fayetteville, Ga. to Dorothy Elizabeth Perry and Henry Hugh McElroy, Sr.
Hugh was an entrepreneur at heart. After a challenge from his father to match what he saved, Hugh, Jr. saved $1,000 and opened his first gas station at the tender age of 13. He graduated in 1949 from Jonesboro High School where he was captain of the school’s first football team. He then went on to serve in the United States Air Force in Anchorage, Alaska in 1952 and opened the first used car lot in Alaska. After losing his mother to breast cancer in 1955, Hugh returned to Fayetteville continuing his entrepreneurial spirit beginning and running many companies such as gas service stations, used car lots, asphalt paving, construction, heavy equipment sales, and commercial rental properties. Donating his services and skills, he paved many of the roads in the city of Riverdale at that time and was instrumental in developing the Riverdale Recreation Center. Anyone who knew Hugh McElroy knew of his love of music, dancing, sports, heavy equipment, fast cars, pickup trucks, bass fishing, Waffle House, and his family. He was a long-time member of the Riverdale Bass Fishing Club where he made many fond memories and lasting friendships.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Hugh McElroy, Sr.; his step-mother, Ellie Mae McElroy; his son, Ricky Curtiss; and his granddaughter, Ester McElroy.
He is survived by his brother, Perry (Barbara) McElroy of McDonough; his sister, Dorothy “Dot” (Charles) Sanders of Fayetteville; his son, Robert (Susan) McElroy of Tennessee; his son, Bryan Keith “Big Mac” (Susan) McElroy of Newnan; his son, Henry Hugh, “Trae” (Melissa) McElroy III of McDonough; his daughter, Lisa (James) Mills of Fayetteville; his daughter, Kristi (Larry) Mingledorff; his grandchildren, Kyle (Jamie) McElroy, Andrea (Jason) Moore, Tyler Tucker, Kaleb (Susan) McElroy, Kristina McElroy, David (Heather) New, Samantha (Sean) Phillips, Jessica (James) Hagelthorn, Cole McElroy, Kimberly (Matthew) Watson, Casey Mills, Kiersten Mills, and Dylan Mingledorff; and his great-grandchildren, Liberty, Monroe, Reagan, Sarah, Logan, Lucas, Lilyane, Alivia, Levi, Maddie, Bryson, and Noah.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at 1 p.m. at the Chapel of Mowell Funeral Home, Fayetteville, with Pastor Gilbert Kelly officiating. Burial will follow at First Baptist Church of Riverdale Cemetery, Riverdale, Ga. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.
Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville – www.mowellfuneralhome.com.
