Evelyn Hockett, age 81, of Winner, passed away at her home on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
Funeral service was held on Saturday April 18, at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.
Evelyn Mae Carpenter was born at home to parents Ernest and Hazel (Sylvester) Carpenter, on October 26, 1933, in Rosewell, SD.
Evie attended grade school at Burbank Consolidated Schools. Her early high school years were spent at Canova High School. It was during her high school years that she met and married the love of her life, Robert Cecil (Bud) Hockett, Sr. To this union ten children were born.
Bud and Evie shared thirty one years together. It was during the time she tenderly cared for Bud in their home when he was suffering with cancer, that he encouraged her to pursue her new found interest in nursing care. At the age of fifty, Evie chose a future career as a nurse. Following the death of her husband, she would enter the Pierre School of Nursing in 1983, graduating suma cum laude. Evie retired from the nursing profession in 2011, caring for many and touching lives with compassion, concern and great sense of humor all grounded in her rock solid faith.
Evie loved life and having a good time and was such fun to spend time with. Her incredible sense of humor and frequent tendency to devise ways to tease and prank people, could keep others on their toes and not quite sure what she might be up to next! She loved to laugh, whether at herself or the situation, and sometimes she created that laughable situation! Many a time there was quite the mischievous sparkle in those pretty blue eyes of her’s and you didn’t know what was about to take place.
Evie was a grandma to more than her own “grands” and ”greats” as she often referred to the huge bunch of next generations she never lost count of, or grew tired of bragging on. She often said it was an honor to be called “Grandma” by all her grandchildren as well as their friends. This loving Grandma understood the concept of Jesus’ open arms to the children. She gladly welcomed hosts of adopted grandchildren over the years. And you didn’t need to be related to call her “Grandma”, she invited it and she was very good in that role. How blessed they all are that this grandma’s prayers for each of them will be remembered by God for years to come.
Evelyn was a fantastic cook and the most amazing baker. Her breads and cinnamon rolls were treats that were known worldwide over the years. Memories of walking into her home and taking in the delicious aroma of something wonderful about to come out of the oven are precious. She would always welcome her guests with a big smile, invite them to sit at her table, then she would put coffee on and tempt you with quite the assortment of gooey and frosted delights. Or how about those chocolate chip cookies? One bite from Evie’s bakery shop and you were hooked!
Evie loved to go camping. She was always up for the adventure of roughing it, planning tasty picnic menus, sitting by campfires, and going on hikes. She just loved the outdoors and visiting new places. She also enjoyed going to retreats and church camps. For several years she was known as the camp cook. She could whip up quite the banquet for just a few or a few hundred people, and of course it always tasted so good to those hungry campers! Evie’s spent many years attending youth and teen camps as cook and camp nurse, roles she truly enjoyed.
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