Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Kathy McCrystal Hocker, 66, of Nicholasville, Kentucky passed away on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Baptist Health in Lexington, Kentucky after a brave and courageous battle with cancer. Born on May 28, 1957 in Danville, Kentucky, she was the daughter of the late Garnett Alvin McCrystal and of the late Lois Gibson McCrystal. She was the wife of George B. Hocker.

Kathy graduated from Harrodsburg High School in 1975 and attended the University of Kentucky where she obtained an Associate Degree in 1977. Following college, she worked as a paralegal with the law firm of Gess Mattingly Saunier and Atchison in Lexington, Kentucky until choosing to become a full time homemaker after getting married and starting a family. Kathy’s legacy is one of family, friends and faith. She was a loving wife and she and George shared a wonderful and blessed life during their 37 years of marriage. Kathy was also a loving mother and grandmother whose world centered around her son Bo and her two grandchildren (Jay and Hanna). When Bo was growing up, Kathy was actively involved in his school activities and never missed a sporting event. When she became a grandmother (“Mimi”), Kathy was actively involved in the lives of Jay and Hanna, often keeping them after school, assisting in their school activities and attending their sporting events. Kathy also felt blessed to have her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, as a part of the family and greatly appreciated the loving care Elizabeth provided during her cancer treatment. Kathy herself was a loving daughter who assisted in providing compassionate care to both of her parents in their later years. She was extremely close to her sisters and cherished the relationships she had with them throughout their lives. Kathy enjoyed it when the families got together for holidays, birthdays, meals (often “pizza nights”), parties or just hanging out. Kathy loved to travel (especially to the beach) with one of her favorite destinations being Hilton Head Island. Kathy had a warm personality and made friends easily. She had many friends, some of whom she had been close friends with for a number of years. Kathy loved spending time with and talking to her friends and always wanted to try and be there for them if they needed someone to lean on. Kathy had a very strong Christian faith and exhibited it through her kindness and compassion towards others. She was a very generous person and over the course of her life routinely helped those in need. Kathy was someone who never sought the limelight but instead preferred to humbly stay in the background. She had a caring and compassionate heart who thought of others before herself. During her cancer treatment and even in her final days, she continued to think of others, always offering a kind word to friends, nurses, caregivers or whoever she came into contact with. Kathy loved animals, especially her dogs. She would be seen in the neighborhood walking them every day, rain or shine and in any temperature. Throughout her life, Kathy was involved with various civic organizations including Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS). She was a longtime member of Southland Christian Church.

Kathy is survived by her husband, George B. Hocker; her son, Clarke “Bo” Hocker (Elizabeth) of Nicholasville, Kentucky; two sisters, Dianne (Gary) Goodaker of Lake Charles, Louisiana and Denise (Tony) Placido of Nicholasville, Kentucky; two grandchildren, James “Jay” Hocker and Hanna Hocker, and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.

Funeral services for Kathy were held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, December 1, 2023 at Southland Christian Church Chapel, Building A, 5001 Harrodsburg Rd., Nicholasville. The visitation was 5-8 p.m. Thursday, November 30th at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home-Harrodsburg Road. Kathy was laid to rest at Blue Grass Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 1504 College Way, Lexington, KY 40502, Bluegrass Care Navigators, 1733 Harrodsburg Rd., Lexington, KY 40504, or to the Lexington Humane Society, 1600 Old Frankfort Pike, Lexington, KY 40504.