Dorothy Kocian

Dorothy Emily (Hegar) Kocian, age 85, of Richmond, formerly of Lacy Lakeview, went Home to be with her Lord and Savior early Sunday morning, January 28, 2024 at Clayton Oaks Senior Living in Richmond.

Funeral Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 5, 2024 at the West Brethren Church, with Rev. Dr. Mark Labaj and Terry Crawford officiating. Burial will follow at West Brethren Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Aderhold Funeral Home in West.

Dorothy was born July 19, 1938 in Ross, the daughter of John and Emily (Elles) Hegar. She attended the old Ross School and was a 1956 graduate of West High School. Dorothy went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree in 1961 from Baylor University and continued her graduate studies at Sam Houston State College in Library Sciences. On February 4, 1967 she was united in marriage to Joe Kocian in West. Joe preceded her in death on October 1, 2011. Dorothy started her education career teaching 2nd grade at Rosebud Elementary before teaching special education, 3rd grade, and 4th grade social studies and Texas history at Lakeview Elementary and Connally Intermediate She did this for 40 years before retiring in 2002. Dorothy was a lifelong and faithful member of the West Brethren Church where she played piano, taught confirmation classes, taught Vacation Bible School, led the choir, and served on the Board of Elders and the Synodical Committee. She served as a local and state officer of the Sunday School Union, Christian Sisters, and Mutual Aid Society. Dorothy has written and co-written Brethren Journal Daily Morsels for over 40 years and did mission work in Honduras. Her travels took her all over the eastern, western and northwestern United States, Europe, western Canada, and the Lone Star State. Dorothy spoke and wrote Czech and has translated many Czech documents. She enjoyed reading, singing, listening to music, traveling, and collecting bells and nutcrackers.

Dorothy is also preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Anna Vera Spicer and Ida Ruth Hodge; and a brother, John Hegar Jr.

Survivors include her children, Mari-Anne Gordon and husband Bruce of Richmond and Michael Kocian and wife Melanie of Brenham; her grandchildren Gillian, Marley, and Landon Kocian and Sarah Gordon; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Active pallbearers are Darryl Barton, Luke Foit, Tim Junek, Alvin Moravec, John Moravec, and Johnny Schoen. Honorary pallbearers are Christopher Hegar, Michael Hegar, Leslie Hegedus, Marty Schoen, and Barry Uptmor.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to West Brethren Church.