Tommy Dale Hockett's Obituary
Tommy Dale Hockett, age 59, of Rowlett, Texas passed away peacefully on August 13, 2016. He was born June 6, 1957 in Garland, Texas to parents Dale and Rosamond Hockett. Tom was the only boy in the family. With Sheri as the older sister, he was sandwiched between Debra and Rhonda. Tom attended Williams Elementary School, Sam Houston Junior High School and graduated from Garland High School in 1975. When Tom was growing up, he fished, hunted, and rode his pony Cheyanne, and later his quarter horse, Wimpy, in Playdays. Later on, he enjoyed snow skiing with his friends. Being very disciplined, he earned a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. His real passion was bull riding, and he made it to the high school State Championships. Until sidelined by a hip injury that plagued him the rest of his life, he competed in the rodeo circuit, traveled as far as New Jersey and made lifelong friends. Ever the cowboy, Tom kept that love for the old West throughout his life. Even in his last days, he could recite the dialogue to the movies True Grit and Wyatt Earp. Tom never wanted to be tied to a desk job. He always wanted to work outside. After working in construction for a short time, he began a roofing business, which eventually turned into Hockett Construction Company. His workers, or as he liked to call them “my guys,” would say that he was the best boss that they ever had. Besides being generous, thoughtful, and always fair, he even helped them out of personal jams. In his later years, he greatly enjoyed meeting weekly with friends for coffee and then shooting at the gun range. He also liked to bow hunt. He tremendously enjoyed his last bow hunt for wild hogs in Oklahoma with his cousin, David. Tom was a devoted son. No matter how busy Tom was, he always found time to help his Dad with leaky roofs, plumbing mishaps, or feeding cattle. He called his mother every day to check in on her. At family gatherings, he entertained his nieces and nephews and kept them laughing. He continued the tradition with his grand nieces and nephews. Tom had a great sense of humor and was always ready with a quip that was nice but deadly accurate. Tom considered his greatest achievement raising his niece Julia, after his sister Debra passed. As Julia would be quick to say, he was her father long before her mother passed. Generous to her in every way, he took everything in stride and laughed at her youthful misadventures. His easygoing approach worked. Julia was first in her school at University of Arkansas and gave the commencement speech. Now Julia, a devoted servant of the Lord, is happily married and a wonderful mother to Annabelle and Owen. In his last year, Tom achieved his goal and saw Julia’s, baby boy, Owen born in June. In his last months, his immediate family, his cousin David, and his many friends including Jesse, Frank, Oscar, Paul, John, and James, gave him great comfort. Tom will be fondly remembered by his father, Dale, and his sisters, Sheri Hockett and Rhonda Dykes. He is also survived by nieces and nephews: Jennifer Korman, Kyle Dykes, Courtney Campbell, Jonathan Campbell, Kacie Soto, Julia Ford, and Katie Dykes; grand nieces and nephews: Sadie Soto, Brayden Castillo, Willow Dykes, Kason Soto, Annabelle Ford, Aria Castillo, and Owen Ford; cousins: David Zettler, Paul Zettler, and Milton Hockett. With his passing, he will join his mother Rosamond and sister Debra. Family will receive friends on Friday, August 19, 2016 from 6-8 PM at Restland Funeral Home. Service will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 10 AM in the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted into Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75243.
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