Andrew Hager

(From Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home)

Andrew Jackson Hager Jr at the age of 83, of Shell Knob, Missouri, peacefully passed away in his home surrounded by family and friends on March 19, 2022. 

Andy was a Valentine’s preemie baby born on February 14, 1939, to Jessie Mae Upton Hager and Andrew Jackson Hager Sr in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

After Andy graduated from High School in Neosho, Missouri, class of 1958, he went on to study Mechanical Engineering at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (now known as Missouri University of Science and Technology) class of 1962. He was a brother of the Lambda Chi Fraternity. 

After graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he was hired by Caterpillar Tractor Company as a marketing engineer from 1962 to 1966. During his time at CAT, he was on active duty with the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant serving two years 1963-1965 in Orleans and Chateauroux, France. When he returned from his duty he was accepted into the School of Law at the University of Missouri and graduated in 1969. 

Andy met Jane Elizabeth McKinney in 1967 when she was an undergraduate Education major at their shared ala mater MIZZOU in Columbia, Missouri. Andy and Jane were married June 22, 1968. The young couple found a home in Mount Vernon, Missouri, from 1969-2006 where he started his private family law practice. 

Andy was the city attorney for the City of Mount Vernon from 1974–2006 and was elected Prosecutor for Lawrence County from 1980-1982. 

After completing his active-duty military service, Andy remained in the Army Reserves until he joined the Missouri Army National Guard in 1973. He served in a variety of positions through the years mainly with the 203rd Engineer Battalion and the 35th Engineer Brigade. In 1982 he was selected as the Battalion Commander of the 203rd Engineer Battalion and in 1988 he served as Commander, at the Camp Clark Training Site. He finished his military career at Camp Clark serving as the Base Commander. His units trained and served in Germany, Korea, and Central America. He retired as a Colonel on June 30, 1990 and completed service in the Individual Ready Reserve in 1994. 

Andy was a Municipal Court Judge in Republic, Missouri, from September 1998 to 2014 as well as nine other southwest Missouri courts. He retired from all his judgeships at the age of 75 in 2014. He enjoyed a life of service with the guiding principles of truth and justice. 

During his few years of retirement in his family home on Table Rock Lake, Andy enjoyed spending time with his family and studying the lives of the U.S. Presidents. All enjoyed his passion for music and most of all his colorful storytelling. 

Andy was predeceased by his parents, Andrew Jackson Hager Sr and Jessie Mae Hager and his brother, Robert Green. 

He is survived by his wife, Jane Hager, his daughter, Susan and husband Karl Maples of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, his granddaughter, Adriana and husband Drew Beck of Twin Peaks, California and grandson Ciro Andrew Jackson Buonocore of Santa Barbara, California. He will be forever remembered for his storytelling. 

Visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon with a memorial service to follow at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. All are invited to a celebration of life gathering held at Keen Bean in Mount Vernon from 3:30-5:30 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made payable to Haven of the Ozarks or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com