Harmon Lee Hocker

Harmon Lee Hocker, 88, of Malone, Texas, passed away Monday, January 31, 2022. Harmon was born on September 13, 1933, near Malone, Texas, to Adolph and Noma (Huber) Hocker. A  graveside service will take place at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 5, 2022, at Hillcrest Garden of Memory near Hillsboro with Chaplain Jerry Bloomfield officiating. He will lie in state Friday, February 4, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors, Hillsboro, Texas.

He was a 1951 graduate of Bynum High School. Shortly after graduating, he began working for the Texas Highway Department. On March 4, 1953, he was drafted to serve our country. He entered the service on September 15, 1953. After five months of duty with the Army Air Force in Korea, he was transferred to Guam, where he trained as a mechanic until he was honorably discharged on September 14, 1955. After returning from the Army, he resumed his career with the Texas Highway Department, retiring in 1993 as an Engineer Technician IV/Construction Bridge Inspector IV.  He was given the nickname, “Smiley” by his co-workers, and was greatly respected and appreciated by his supervisors and co-workers during his forty-year tenure.

Harmon’s personality was that of a “SWEET SOUL.”  He was a soft spoken, man of few words, but had an infectious smile that would light up a room. He was a car enthusiast, traveling all over Texas attending rallies, swap meets, and vintage/classic car shows. Harmon had a deep admiration for horses, but especially black and white Tobiano Paint Horses. He was a Lifetime Member of the National Paint Horse Association. In 1985, he attended the first NPR National Rodeo in Las Vegas, an event he would attend every year until 2005. He did not miss an event at the Will Rodgers Coliseum in Ft Worth, Texas, which involved a horse. If there was a futurity sale, paint horse show, NCHA World Championship Futurity, or the Ft Worth Stock Show Rodeo, you were going to find him there. His favorite seat at any rodeo was by the rodeo chutes because as he would say, “That’s where all the action is!”

He was preceded in death by his parents; and twin brother Paul Dee Hocker.

Left to cherish his memories are numerous cousins.

In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hill County Paw Pals, 1500 Abbott Ave, Hillsboro, TX 76645, or Habitat for Horses   https://www.habitatforhorses.org/support/donate.