Rosamond Maxine Hockett's Obituary
Rosamond Maxine Hockett, age 86, of Garland, Texas passed away peacefully on October 2, 2012 in Dallas, Texas. She was born on April 28, 1926 in Renner, Texas to her parents, John Findley Prater, Jr and Ruth Hazel Kinzey Prater. Rose was the oldest of two children, growing up with her younger sister Sara. She attended Farmersville High School and graduated in 1943. She met her future husband and childhood sweetheart, Delta Dale Hockett, when she was just 14 years old. She married Dale in Dallas, Texas on January 15, 1945 when he returned home from World War II after serving in the Pacific as a signalman on the submarine U.S.S. Tambor. They lived in Seattle, Washington and Chicago, Illinois. With the birth of their first child, Rose and Dale settled in Garland, Texas where they have been residents in the same home for 59 years. They had four children. Rose was a dedicated mother, and she owned her own beauty shop, Rosamond’s Beauty Shoppe, where she enjoyed styling hair and giving permanents and flawless half-moon manicures. To her daughters’ delight and chagrin, Rose practiced and perfected many hairstyles on them, memorialized in their elementary school photos. As a young mom, she played piano for Sunday School classes. When her children were older, she worked hard at Safeway for 15 years enjoying the camaraderie of her fellow employees. Always happy, Rose was a devoted matriarch. She was the pivot point that kept her family together. She was very proud of her children’s, grandchildren’s, and great-grandchildren’s accomplishments. She always encouraged her children and grandchildren to continue their education. She doted on her seven grandchildren and was very involved in their lives. Rose enjoyed crochet, quilting, cooking, mysteries, and travel. She kept the family supplied with scarves, potholders, afghans, hats, slippers, and baby blankets. She loved to cook for the entire family, making certain everyone’s favorite dish was served. Rose planned Thanksgiving and Christmas months in advance to ensure perfect family gatherings. All will remember her amazing holiday celebrations. Rose travelled across the US including Galveston, Yellowstone, Alaska, Washington DC, New York, Grand Canyon, Reno, Disney World, Boston, and the Grand Ole Opry. She was always game for an adventure such as a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier or sightseeing on a seaplane. At every opportunity, she always found and enjoyed a beautiful view. Rosamond will be remembered by Dale, her loving husband of 67 years and their children Sheri Lynn Hockett, Tommy Dale Hockett, and Rhonda Kay Dykes. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Jennifer Ruth Wise, Steven Kyle Dykes, Courtney Michelle Campbell, Jonathan David Campbell, Kacie Rena Soto, Julia Anne Ford, and Katie Rose Dykes; two great-grandchildren: Sadie Rena Soto and Brayden Eli Castillo; her sister Sara Maritza Zettler; her two nephews David John Zettler and Paul Gordon Zettler; her five grand-nieces and grand-nephews Haley Rose Zettler, John Wade Zettler, Rachel Kristen Zettler, Jenna Zettler, and Matthew Zettler. With her passing, she will join her daughter Debra Jean Hockett and her parents John and Ruth Prater
What’s your fondest memory of Rosamond?
What’s a lesson you learned from Rosamond?
Share a story where Rosamond's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Rosamond you’ll never forget.
How did Rosamond make you smile?