Boyd Johnson “B.J.” Dover Jr., 89, passed away Friday, February 7, at his home in Jasper. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at Kilgore-Green Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. in the Kilgore Green Chapel and burial will be at Walker Memory Gardens. John Jaye will officiate. B.J. was preceded in death by his loving wife, Louise Handley Dover; parents, Boyd and Vervie Dover; and brother, Robert Dover. B.J. is survived by his son, Mike Dover and daughter-in-law, Lynne Dover of Jasper; grandson Matt Dover and his wife, Emily Cole; granddaughter, Laura Dover Adar and her husband, Tony Adar, all of New York; sister, Betty Jernigan and brother-in-law Roy Jernigan of Birmingham; sister-in-law, Dee Dover of Jasper, and four nieces and nephews. B.J. was born December 12, 1930, in Walker County, where he lived his entire life. He married his high school sweetheart, Louise, in 1951. They were happily married for 67 years until her passing last year. Soon after his marriage, B.J. served in the Korean War for two years from 1951-1953, during which time his only son was born. After returning home from the war, B.J. worked as a coal miner until he began working in maintenance for the Arrow Shirt Company. He eventually worked his way up to become regional plant engineer for the company—the only company engineer who didn’t graduate from college. B.J. worked for Arrow for nearly three decades until his retirement. He also owned and operated a small cattle farm for roughly twenty years on the outskirts of Jasper where he and Louise raised their son Mike. After his retirement from Arrow, B.J. worked as a part-time handyman and electrician. Outside of work, B.J. enjoyed working on his farm and was a staunch supporter of local farmers, serving as president of the Cattleman’s Association. Throughout his life, regardless of health, B.J. was never one to have idle hands. He was a master at repairing and building all things, and one of his greatest joys later in life was doing this for his grandchildren. He also enjoyed playing games with friends and family and socializing with friends over morning coffee around Jasper. Most importantly, B.J. was a devoted and loving husband to his lifelong love, Louise, and he will be greatly missed by his surviving family.
