Earl Richard (Rich) Hockett was born December 7, 1923 in Branson Colorado to Earl Richard Hockett Sr. and Stella (Weeks) Hockett. He grew up hunting and fishing and learning how to be a man in the canyon land of SE Colorado.
Rich joined the Navy in 1944 and served as a 20mm gunner on a Merchant Marine Ship delivering supplies to the Philippines. His ship was part of a 500 ship convoy traveling to the South Pacific in WW II. After his discharge he worked for Diamond A Cattle Company around the Trinidad, Colorado area. His hobbies included hunting and fishing and flying airplanes.
He later married Ruby Lenora Hart and lived in various places that his work with Colorado Interstate Gas took him. To this union three children were born: Alden (Russ) Russell Hockett, Wayne Richard Hockett and Janett Rose Hockett (Bonnell).
Later in life he married Merle Maxine Baker and lived in Eads, Colorado. Maxine had 4 children from a previous marriage: Karen Gifford, Marilyn Quinn, Kenny Baker, Lee Baker. Rich and Maxine had great fun together as they enjoyed numerous outdoor activities and a mutual love of flying as Maxine was a pilot also.
He married Pam Addington in October 15, 2006 and lived in Eads, Colorado until moving to Farmington, NM in 2015. Pam had 4 children from a previous marriage: Gary Hendricks, Pamela Hendricks (Green), Terri Hendricks (Pettyjohn) and David Hendricks.
Rich worked at Colorado Interstate Gas Company for 35 years and after retirement started his own construction company. Rich had a can do approach to life and to problems and was always willing to help anyone in need many times going unpaid and doing as unto the Lord and not for the praise of men.
Rich was a dedicated Christian and prayer warrior and knew how to reach the throne of grace for those who were in times of need. In his later years when mobility was an issue he devoted much of his time to prayer for others. We like to say it was his prayers that brought total healing from liver cancer for Pam’s teenage grandson.
Rich entered into eternity with his Savior Jesus Christ and received his eternal reward on June 24, 2023.
He is survived by wife, Pam Hockett, brother, Albert Hockett, children, Russ (MaryAnn) Hockett, Wayne (Shirl) Hockett, Janett (John) Bonnell, and numerous grandchildren and great children as well many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, four sisters, a granddaughter and a grandson.
Services will be Monday, July 24, 2023 at Praise Community Church at 10:00 am. Pastors Lee Brown and Keith Corley will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations are respectfully requested in honor of Rich at Weisbrod Memorial Nursing Home.
Friends and family can register online condolences and sign the guestbook at www.brownfuneraldirectors.com. Brown Funeral Home in Eads was in charge of arrangements.
