Rebekah “Becky” JoAnn Hathcock went to be with our Heavenly Father on January 4th in Dallas, TX as a result of an undetected brain aneurism. Becky was a young 29. At her passing she was surrounded by an army of family and friends and being lifted up in prayer by loved ones around the world.
Becky was born in Amarillo, TX on May 3, 1984 to her mother, Anne Norman and father, Taylor Norman. She was the fourth daughter and is survived by her parents and sisters Jennye Anderson, Heather Norman and Hayden LaRochelle.
As a baby, Becky had severe colic; she needed to be held constantly, and then she still cried. Her oldest sisters, Jennye and Heather, played a big role in helping her mother keep her happy. Full of personality, she entertained her family with all her baby tricks and got lots of laughs by sticking her tongue out during photo ops.
As a child Becky was very easy going, kind and sweet. She always put her shoes on the wrong feet earning her the lifetime nickname ‘Backwards Becky.’ She never grew tired of putting shoes on her feet and has a closet full of shoes to prove it.
In 1994 Anne, Hayde and Becky moved to Panhandle, TX to live with Becky’s maternal grandparents, Hayden ‘Dandy’ and Leta ‘Murr’ Dowlen. She was reared on Beefalo, Murr’s rolls, farm fresh eggs, spaghetti, DQ, Panther Pizza and strawberry vanilla crème Dr. Peppers. Becky and Hayde spent endless hours riding the tractor and playing in the cemetery with Dandy who was the community grave digger. They built forts out of discarded bricks and oil barrels, dug snow caves in the winter and spent the summers either at the pool or in the cow troughs.
In fourth grade Becky was blessed with a group of girls who would become lifelong friends and sisters in their own rite. They did everything together from dying their hair with Kool-Aid to stealing her sister’s car to make a drug store run. (Unbeknownst to said sister until the writing of this . ) They siphoned gas from the lawn mower to take Murr’s car downtown, ate endless amounts of beanie weenies, camped in the dump truck, but most importantly shared memories that would bond them forever.
Becky was in a hurry to grow up. She was determined to make the most of her time on earth. She graduated Panhandle High School a year early in 2001. She got a jump on her studies at Amarillo College then transferred to Texas Tech University where she rooted on the Red Raiders and joined a competitive poker league…she won, a lot.
Becky spent her last summer of school studying in Mexico, tiring of red sauce covered everything, she and her roommate roamed the streets looking for anything to eat besides Mexican food, happening upon Tony Roma’s they quickly ordered one of everything and ate for two hours! Becky graduated from Texas Tech with a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Communications in 2005. Becky loved to write and she was a great wordsmith.
While in Lubbock, Becky met the man who would be the love of her life, Chris Hathcock. After graduation Becky moved to Dallas where she and Chris continued to date. She made her best oatmeal cookies for him to seal the deal. When Becky and Chris discovered they were going to have a baby together, no one could have possibly predicted the amazing experience God had in store for them.
On August 17th, 2008 Becky and Chris celebrated the birth of their daughter, Ava Claire. After two weeks of being hospitalized and a very intense labor, Ava came into the world screaming at the top of her lungs, and didn’t stop for 9 months. Both Becky and Chris spent hours rocking, bouncing, swinging, swaying, strolling and performing the combo-knee-dip-sway-back-pat swoosh shhhhh to comfort their baby girl. That time was exhausting for the little family but in hindsight, God was giving Becky and Chris the gift of time together.
On October 4th, 2009, under the beautiful fall colors, surrounded by an intimate group of family and friends and in the presence of God, Becky and Chris married, promising to love, honor and cherish one another. They kept their promise all the days of her life.
After moving to Brownwood, TX, Chris’s hometown, Becky quickly transitioned to her role as homemaker; sewing, crafting, baking, cooking, decorating, online shoe shopping, elaborately themed party and holiday planning and junking for treasures in thrift shops; but Becky was a homebody at heart and loved nothing more than being cuddled on the couch in a pair of PJs with her family and Mekah dog.
Becky went back to work in 2012 for Landmark Life in Brownwood. She was welcomed by the office lizard and a group of coworkers who would become fast friends. Always up for trying new things, Becky ran her first 5k with them in September. True to her organized nature, Becky had already chosen their 2014 Halloween costumes.
Becky was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Taylor and Beverly Norman and her maternal grandparents Hayden and Leta Dowlen.
Becky; daughter, sister, mother, wife, aunt, friend, is survived by nearly all of the people who loved her most in life. Together with her family and friends her husband, Chris Hathcock and daughter, Ava Claire Hathcock (5) are all faithfully looking forward to the day when we will be reunited with her in Heaven.
A memorial service will be held to honor Becky’s memory at Abundant Life Church, Brownwood, TX on January 9th at 3:00pm.
The family wishes to send everyone our most heartfelt thanks for the tremendous outpouring of love you have demonstrated during this difficult time. We ask that you continue to support both Chris and Ava in the days, weeks and years to come as they find their way in their ‘new normal’ life.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Chris Hathcock Benefit account at Citizens National Bank to begin a scholarship fund for Ava. Citizens National Bank, 1 Carnegie, Brownwood, TX 76801. If you need further information please contact the Netherton Funeral Home in Brownwood.
