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| Betty Jean Hocker |
Betty Jean Hocker, 85, Freeman, Missouri, died Sunday, November 6, 2016 at Eufaula Manor in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, November 12, 2016 at the Freeman Baptist Church, Freeman, Missouri. Burial will be in Freeman Cemetery with a fellowship gathering to follow at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Freeman Baptist Church, P.O. Box 187, Freeman, MO 64746 or to Freeman Cemetery, c/o Kenny Duncan, P.O. Box 125, Freeman, MO 64746.
Betty was born October 31, 1931 in Freeman, Missouri, the daughter of Raymond and Mary Florence (Cockrell) Weller. She attended Zion #87 rural school from 1937-1945 and after 8th grade graduation, she attended Harrisonville School and graduated in 1949. She was a lifetime resident of Cass County, Missouri.
After graduation, Betty taught school at four Cass County rural schools, Oak Grove #83 (1950-1951), Wolfe #91 (1951-1954), Belle Plain #61 (1963-1964), and Mount Zion #63 (1964-1967). She then taught at East Lynne Schools for many years, and then substituted for Cass-Midway Schools, retiring in 2000. She married Robert William Hocker on December 23, 1950 in Drexel, Missouri and enjoyed their life together farming.
Betty enjoyed gardening, volunteering for a number of various organizations, reading, traveling to see family, scrapbooking, and her church. She especially enjoyed having the family gathered at her house for the holidays, especially for Christmas. She also was in charge of the Freeman Community Flower/Donation fund. She was a member of Freeman Baptist Church and served as Sunday School Superintendant, Vacation Bible School leader and teacher; Freeman Community 4-H Club leader; Freeman Cemetery Treasurer; Harrisonville Hospital Women’s Auxiliary and served as treasurer, secretary, and president; and was a member of the National Farmers Organization (NFO).
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 57 years, Robert, on March 7, 2008. Betty is survived by two sons, William R. Hocker and wife, Kathy, Towanda, Kansas, and Chester W. Hocker and wife, Susan, Overland Park, Kansas; one daughter, Wilma J. Bright and husband, Larry, Eufaula, Oklahoma; one sister, Wanda Baze and husband, Sam, Overland Park, Kansas; grandchildren, Sara Hocker, Sean Hocker, Jesse Woodward, Amy Hocker, and Larry Bright, Jr.; 4 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
