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Robert Lindell Hockett, “Bob,” was born and raised in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was the youngest of four children born to Lindell Carey Hockett and Grace Lamira Tappan on July 14, 1927 where he was raised on a farm.
His parents were Quakers and attended the Friends Bible College in Nebraska. They were church going folks and would always attend any church that was available where they lived. Bob accepted Jesus as his savior and was baptized in believer’s baptism as a teen.
He always told us about the time when his brother and friends would hang him over the cliffs on a rope and search for baby eagles, then the one day when he actually came face to face with one he did not know what to do so he told them “no, nothing here.”
He moved to Oregon and attended OSU (the Beavers) there. Bob entered the Navy after high school, serving four years before enrolling in mining engineering and geology at Oregon State University. Once his college education was complete he again entered the Navy for a six year term with honorable discharges on both occasions.
After college, Bob travelled to Salome, AZ to help his parents run the family “rock shop.” Soon after arriving in Arizona, he made his way to the small mining town of San Manuel where he took his first job as a geologist for Magma Copper Company. He would often say when he arrived there was only half of a smoke stack built. Not long after arriving he met a young nurse and took her as his bride and their adventure in life began. Bob and Stacy had five children and remained in San Manuel to raise their family.
Bob was very active in his community with scouting, school board, the Elks Club and the local swim team to mention a few. In 1974, he was honored with the “Award of Merit” by the Boy Scouts of America, Copper district for his dedication to the youth of the Tri-Community and then in 1976 he was awarded the “Silver Beaver Award” for his exemplary accomplishments as a Scoutmaster. He served on the San Manuel School board from 1975 to 1988.
Bob retired from Magma Copper in 1988 after 30 years with the company. He will be remembered by many in the community for his camping trips with the scouts, his family and friends. He always had a smile and never met a stranger; beloved by so many for his amazing personality, one in a million smile with the bluest eyes that sparkled like diamonds. He was an avid camper, rock hound, spelunker, fisherman, astronomer, hiker, cook, handyman, scientist and all around adventurer.
Bob passed away peacefully Friday, June 26, 2015, preceded in death by his wife Henrietta “Stacy”. He is survived by his five biological children Robert, Richard (Lisa), Ruth, Rebecca Clarke and Rachel Womack. He has 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and so many “adopted” children he loved and guided over the years.
Soreo Hospice and Palliative Care provided compassionate care during his final months of life.
Services will be held Wednesday, July 1, at 6 p.m. at Vistoso Funeral Home, 2285 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd, Oro Valley, Arizona.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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