Copyrighted © 1997 by Jane Hodgson. Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Jane Hunter Hodgson . USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogy information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations." Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must contact the submitter or the listed USGenWeb archivist. Uploaded 30 November 1997 by: Jane Hunter Hodgson Tucson, Arizona Email: This file contains an obituary from the Southern California Arizona Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, 1957 Harvey H. HOCKER HOCKER, H.H. (T.06; F.08) N. Indiana, 06 Bluffton, Ct; 07 (Oct) Westfield; So. Cal, 09 (Jan 10) Reedley; 11 San Luis Obispo; 14 Fullerton; 17 Redondo; 23 San Fernando; 27 Compton; 31 Pasadena, Hartzell Memorial; 37 Covina; 46 Montebello; 47 Minister of Finance-Conference Board of Missions and Church Extension; 49 R'td (1617:2); 51-54 (Arcadia, Assoc); 55-56 (Arcadia Min. of Visitation) Harvey H. Hocker was born November 19, 1877 at Vera Cruz, Indiana. When he was nine months of age his parents moved to Monroe, Indiana where Harvey attended grade and high schools, later graduating in 1904 from Taylor University at Upland, Indiana. He began his ministry in the North Indiana conference, his first charge being the Bluffton Circuit on the Fort Wayne District. Here he first manifested the super-abundant energy and tremendous drive that characterized his entire ministry. Within a period of two years he had conducted sixteen evengelistic meetings, received a large number of members into five different churches and led the Conference in missionary offerings. He was a very friendly man, taking great delight in the fellowship of community organizations as well as the church and his own family. In 1905 he married Miss B. Mae Williams who went with him to his first charge. To this union there were born five children who now survive him, Mrs. Marvellee D. Moody, Mrs. Ramona E. Reed, Merrill, Maurice and Ramon Hocker and six grandchildren, Robert and Marvelle Moody, James and Donald Reed, Myrna Hocker McKnight, Judy Paulette Hocker, and five great grandchildren. He came to California in 1909 and served nine charges in our Conference. It was while he was at Redondo Beach in 1922 that the writer was invited by his church to assist him in a series of evangelistic meetings. In the years that followed that invitation was repeated by every church he served during his active ministry. This memorial comes from the heart of a friend who greatly admired and deeply loved this man of God whom he has known intimately for thirty-five years. He was truly unselfish. Always, when we worked together in evangelistic meetings, he would labor unceasingly to prepare long lists of prospects. He would make innumerable contacts which only a man of his energy could do. He would present the challenge of Christ publicly and privately, without calling for committments. Then, when the guest preacher arrived, the fields indeed were ready for the harvest and he was the first to rejoice in the acclaim which came to others rather than to himself. He loved music and frequently led group singing in churches and service clubs. His vibrant personality and enthusiasm inspired participation. When Mrs. Mae Hocker, a well-trained musician, passed away in 1926, leaving Harvey alone with five children, it was quite natural that in time he sought the companionship of Miss Mabel Steel whom he and the whole Hocker family had known at Redondo Beach where Mabel was a talented musician and a devoted church worker. On October 1, 1928, Harvey Hocker and Mabel Steel were married during the Annual Conference at Santa Barbara. It proved to be a happy experience for both of them and a blessing to the church. For the remaining 29 years of his ministry she was an efficient co-worker, often serving as a soloist and organist as well as a leader in various departments of the churches they served while helping to make their home a place where the children and grandchildren loved to visit. The last four years of his active ministry Harvey served as Minister of Finance, representing the Conference Board of Missions. He had the satisfaction not only of raising approximately a half million dollars for the on-going work of the Kingdom but also of coaching a large number of younger ministers so that they too know how to challenge church members to larger and more sacrificial giving. Perhaps the happiest years of his life were the six years he served as Associate and later as Minister of Visitation at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Arcadia. His life motto was: "I live for those who love me, Whose hearts are kind and true, For the heaven that smiles above me And the good that I can do." And the crowning appreciation of the good that he did came when the Church of the Good Shepherd made him Pastor Emeritus the night before he died. The words of the Writer of Hebrews, "He being dead yet speaketh" truly applies to Harvey Hocker. The work that he did and the life that he lived will continue to speak for many years to come even as they spoke in his days of the flesh. Edgar J. EVANS Roll Of The Honored Dead Hocker, Harvey E 79 Monrovia May 23, 1957 Indiana 51 years in the ministry, Oakdale, Covina