Kris Gordon Hochderffer

This is the story of Kris Gordon Hochderffer. Kris was a wonderful man who was loved, is missed, and will always be cherished. Our “PopPop” as he was called by his grandchildren, and “Kage” as he was called by his folks when he was little, was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and a card player like no other…in fact he could often be heard telling his partner or the opponents “play in turn, it makes a difference.”

Kris’ story begins on July 19, 1948, in Norman, Oklahoma, the only child of Joe Gordon Hochderffer and Marianne Tarpenning Hochderffer. The family moved to Blackwell, Oklahoma where he graduated from High School. Yes, he was a VERY proud Blackwell High Maroon! Upon entering Oklahoma State University in 1966, he became a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and made lifetime memories with his beloved “brothers”…who were true to the very end! Kris graduated from OSU and attended law school at Oklahoma University, thus splitting his allegiance between both Oklahoma schools.

In 1980 he married Susan Ray Hochderffer and together they made a life with their only child, Lauren in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he practiced law and in Austin, Texas, where he was a Trust Attorney at First City Bank and Frost Bank. He later went on to be a private fiduciary, dealing with many special needs trusts. He was a perfect match for that job until long after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2007.

Kris was never a seeker of the spotlight nor did he try to be the life of any party, but you could bet your next paycheck that you wanted to be seated by him at any gathering. His quiet, but dry, self-deprecating humor made him naturally funny and “funny things” just happened to him that made everyone laugh. Always well-dressed, he was rarely seen without either a bow tie or a fedora.

Kris absolutely loved great food (especially chocolate!), friendly gatherings, Oklahoma football, Beta reunions, and using proper grammar. In fact, if he has ever corrected your grammar in the past, please don’t be offended, it has happened to all of us a time or two, so know you’re not alone! He enjoyed weekend jaunts as well as traveling with friends around the country and into Europe. Many a summer vacation was spent in Aspen, Colorado, where he and his family would enjoy the Maroon Bells, fishing in the rivers, and hiking around the lakes. He has requested that his ashes be spread there, in “God’s country” where his dear Beta friend Ted is resting and waiting for him.

Loved ones who cleared the path for Kris are his father Joe Gordon Hochderffer and his mom Marianne Hochderffer Pemberton. Loved ones who remain and will miss Kris until they are reunited again forever, are his wife, Susan; daughter, Lauren and son-in-law Leon, along with his 2 grandchildren, Micah (9) and Bella (3) who were his joie de vivre. There’s no denying they were most cherished and were his most entertaining audience. These precious saints provided endless hours of help and love, and often entertained him with praise and worship songs around his bed in his latter days. The last chapter of his story in this life ended on April 8, 2020, peacefully, and in his own home, surrounded by his family.

We could not have given him the care he deserved without the loving hands and endless help from St. Gabriel’s Hospice of Ft. Worth. These people are truly angels in disguise and deserve the biggest thank you of all. Darlene, Charlotte and Liz, we love and appreciate you greatly. If you feel so inclined, Kris has requested any memorials made in his name to be sent to them at 1313 College Ave, Ft. Worth, TX 76104, 870-306-4546.

Kris' Celebration of Life was held on May 30, 2020 at Lucas Funeral Home in Keller. A recording of the celebration may be watched by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJm0vipp0F0

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St. Gabriel's Hospice:
https://www.stgabrielshospice.com/

OR you can do something kind for your neighbors in honor of Kris.

In a time of crisis, your physical presence may not have been felt but your kind words certainly were. To view a video of virtual hugs to the Hochderffer family please click here: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/NTQJZ3L3D9KF6DDX

And now, I’m glad I didn’t know,
The way it all would end,
The way it all would go.
Our lives, are better left to chance,
I could have missed the pain,
But I’d have had to miss the dance.