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Muskogee, OK - On May 10, 2026, Fred Hogle's earthly journey ended and eternity began. Surrounded by the love of his life, Sharon, his children, grandchildren, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law, Fred peacefully entered his heavenly home with the hands of those he loved holding tightly to his own.
Although Parkinson's disease may have taken his body, it never touched his spirit, his humor, or the enormous heart that defined his life. Anyone who ever met Fred knew exactly what kind of man he was. His quick wit, mischievous grin, squinty eyes, and unforgettable personality left an impression wherever he went. You didn't forget Fred Hogle once you met him.
Fred was born on August 17, 1946, to Lon and Ruby Hogle. As their only child, he was the center of their world and the proud continuation of a family legacy that began in 1921 when his grandfather, A.T. Hogle, founded The Hogle Company. Fred carried that family business with pride, becoming a third-generation mechanical contractor with both plumbing and HVAC licenses — including the original plumbing license number "007" that belonged to his great-grandfather.
Fred graduated from Central High School in 1964, served eight years in the Army Reserves, and earned a Business Administration degree from Northeastern State University.
He was a longtime Shriner in Muskogee for 51 years and served on the Muskogee Port Authority for more than 25 years. But titles and accomplishments only tell a small part of Fred's story. What truly defined him was how deeply he loved his family, his friends, his faith, and a good adventure.
On March 31, 1972, after seven years of dating, Fred married the love of his life and best friend, Sharon Kay Stockton. Together for more than 60 years and married for 54, they built a life full of laughter, dancing, motorcycles, travel, friendship, and unwavering devotion. If you saw one of them, the other was usually close behind. Their marriage was the kind of marriage people hope exists — full of fun, loyalty, and genuine friendship.
Fred and Sharon welcomed their son, Justin, in 1977 and their daughter, Abigail, in 1980. His children were the pride of his life. Fred was a strict father, a perfectionist, and the kind of dad who believed that if you brought home a 95, he would absolutely ask why it wasn't a 100. He taught hard work, accountability, integrity, and faith in God from the very beginning. He pushed his children to be their very best because he believed in them completely. More importantly, he made sure they always knew that Daddy would never let them fail.
Fred loved fiercely and without limits. He was a proud father-in-law to Chad and Stacy, loving them as his own and never making any distinction that they were not blood. Family was family to Fred — period.
He was endlessly talented and could build or engineer just about anything. If you could dream it, Fred could figure out how to make it happen. He designed and built his family home in Muskogee, designed his lake home at Lake Eufaula, and engineered many of the trolley systems at Boulder Ridge that carried families from their homes down the bluffs to their docks.
Fred loved the outdoors almost as much as he loved his people. He hunted, fished, raised bird dogs, and spent countless hours outdoors with lifelong friends Sonny Salmon, Curtis Salmon, Steve Salmon, Ex Gage, Robert Gaddy, Freddie Reufer, and Jerry Baker. He loved to fish and hunt with his son Justin, his son-in-law Chad, and his grandsons Stockton, Archer, and Waylon. He loved to fish with his daughter, Abby, and spend time on the porch chatting with his daughter-in-law, Stacy. He especially cherished the many hunting and fishing adventures with his father, Lon, traveling and making memories all over the world together. And while Fred may have traded bird dogs more often than anyone could count, the family always joked, "Thank goodness he didn't trade wives like he did bird dogs."
Fred loved motorcycles, dancing, Cajun music, crawfish boils, and a good party. Some of the best memories were made at Freddie Reufer's airplane hangar, where Fred would roast whole hogs, fly in live crawfish, and gather friends for nights full of laughter, music, and dancing. He especially loved dancing with Sharon and his daughter Abby.
Later in life, when many people slow down, Fred decided to earn his pilot's license. After age 60, he became a pilot, bought a plane, and took to the skies with Sharon and friends, flying all over the United States just because he could. That was Fred — always building, creating, exploring, and living life to the fullest.
He loved his church family at First Baptist and at Southeast Baptist Church, although he was famously known for arriving just late enough on Wednesday nights to miss the music portion of service and squeeze in between Sonny and Marie Salmon and interrupt Mark Hester's sermon.
Fred treasured his friendships deeply. Whether it was lunches with David Jones and Fred Reufer, lake porch storytelling sessions with Dwight and Robin O'Quinn, Joe O'Quinn, Doug and Lisa Duffy, Richard and Sally Miller, and Ron and Cleta Owen, or hunting trips to Kansas with the Salmon boys, Fred built a life rich in friendship and loyalty.
Even through cancer and Parkinson's disease during the last 15 years of his life, Fred never stopped living. He never complained. He never quit working. He never let illness define him or rob him of joy. He continued loving people, telling stories, making memories, and living life with grit and determination until the very end.
The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the many friends and loved ones who prayed for, encouraged, and supported Fred and Sharon throughout the years.
Special thanks to Dr. Jeremy Ross and his nursing staff for the compassion and care they provided during Fred's final days.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Fred and Sharon's home located at 3841 East Davis Field Road, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74403. Refreshments and a light meal will be served. Friends, family, and loved ones are invited to come celebrate a life well lived.
Fred didn't want a funeral. He wanted a party — and that's exactly what he's getting.
For those lucky enough to know him, Fred Hogle was a blessing. His love, reflected through those unforgettable squinty eyes, silver hair, and sly grin, touched countless lives.
He gave the very best of himself to everyone he met, and because of that, his legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of so many.
If Fred taught us anything, it's this: love people fully, laugh often, work hard, dance when you can, and never stop living life.
Fred Hogle will never be forgotten.
"The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him." — Proverbs 20:7
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