On behalf of the entire Hillcrest Community, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, a 2008 Hillcrest High School graduate who made the ultimate sacrifice defending Afghan civilians and leading fellow Marines on August 26, 2021.
He is survived by his father Darin, his mother Kelly, his sisters Tori and Ally, and his fiancée Nicole. His selfless service and courage are remembered by those who served with him and those who knew him. Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover had been in the Marines for 11 years and was remembered as a hero. “He gave his life protecting those that can’t protect themselves, doing what he loved serving his country,” his father, Darin Hoover, said. Hoover said his son was also a best friend to his two sisters and loved all his extended family. He had a girlfriend in California and was the kind of guy who “lit up a room” when he came in, his father said.
Nate Thompson of Murray, Utah, first met Hoover when they were 10 years old in Little League football. They stayed friends through high school, where Hoover played lineman for the Huskies. “He was undersized for the position, but his heart and hard work more than made up for what he lacked in stature,” Thompson said. As a friend, he was selfless and kind.
“He was the most-loving, giving, understanding person you could ever meet,” Darin Hoover said.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox was among officials who offered their sympathies to Hoover’s family. Flags will be flown at half-staff at all state facilities and public grounds until Aug. 30 to honor all those killed in Afghanistan. “We honor his tremendous bravery and commitment to his country, even as we condemn the senseless violence that resulted in his death,” Cox said.
