Dennison Lee "Denny" Hockett, age 81, of White Oak, Texas, formerly of Longbranch, Texas, passed away peacefully on Friday morning, January 2, 2026, at his home in White Oak after his courageous battle with cancer. Denny was born on July 30, 1944, in Harlingen, Texas, to the late Arthur Clinton and Marjorie Mardall Wohlgemuth Hockett. He graduated from Rio Hondo High School with the Class of 1962. Shortly thereafter, he proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1962 until 1966, receiving an honorable discharge.

On December 28, 1984, Denny married the love of his life, Connie Jean Atkins, in Rockwall, Texas. Their reunion completed a beautiful love story a lifetime in the making. Denny and Connie celebrated their 41st anniversary on December 28th. Throughout his life, Denny worked in many professions, including farming and operating a dredge boat. His curiosity and determination led him to earn numerous computer certifications, which allowed him to work as a Customer Engineer repairing mainframe computers at IBM and later with CE Services until his retirement.

Denny was a proud 32nd Degree Mason. In his younger years, he enjoyed rebuilding cars, and later in life he found great satisfaction in woodworking. Above all else, he was a loving and devoted husband, a caring father, and an adoring grandfather and great-grandfather. In 1998, Mr. Hockett moved to Longbranch from Kaufman, Texas. He was a faithful member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon and was an active participant in the Men's Sunday school class.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Bennie, Sonny, and Georgie Hockett, and by his sister, Carolyn Finley.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Connie Hockett; children, Deborah Hockett, Janet Pawlowski, Jennifer Hockett, Jason Hockett and wife Janna, Christina Hockett, and Courtney Gill and husband Cody; grandchildren, Riley Hockett, Emma Hockett, Anna Hockett, Alayna Keiren (Juul), Garrett Gill (Kearsten), Taylor Gill, and Tyler Gill (Hayley); great-grandchildren, Ellie Gill and Noah Gill; siblings, Marilyn Johnson and husband Virgil, and Marty Hockett and wife Kathie; along with numerous other relatives and friends.

Denny's greatest hope and constant prayer was that his children and grandchildren would know Jesus as their Savior, love Him deeply, and serve God through their lives.

A funeral service with Military Honors will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Cedar Grove Baptist Church with Jason Nichol officiating under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Clayton Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers are Jason Hockett, Riley Hockett, Garrett Gill, Taylor Gill, Tyler Gill, Cody Gill, Alex Hubbard, and Chris Russell.

Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Bly and the Deacon body of Cedar Grove Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to Cedar Grove Baptist Church, 1050 CR 108, Carthage, Texas 75633, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (checks made to St Jude and passed to Connie), or to Shriners Children's Shreveport, Office of Philanthropy, 3100 Samford Ave, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71103.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.