Rebecca Brockett

Rebecca Higgins Brockett, age 100, of Leroy, passed away early Friday morning, January 27, 2023 at her residence.

Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Aderhold Funeral Home in West. The family will receive visitors from 10 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Rebecca was born on November 7, 1922 in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Frank and Vard (Smith) Higgins. She attended schools in Houstonia, Missouri and graduated valedictorian from Houstonia High School. She then received a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Central Missouri State Teachers College. On her 21st birthday, Rebecca enlisted and proudly served her country during WWII. Lt. Higgins completed her physical therapy training with the US Army in Denver, CO. She was transferred to San Francisco to rehabilitate injured soldiers returning from battle in the Pacific Theater. Some of her patients had survived the Bataan Death March. After active duty she trained in the treatment of polio victims in Warm Springs, GA, where President Roosevelt was treated. She worked in a children’s polio hospital in Vicksburg, MS. On July 4, 1950 she was united in marriage to Joe Brockett Jr. in Truth or Consequences, NM. Joe preceded her in death on April 21, 1997. After having four children, she returned to teaching and taught homebound children at La Vega High School. She then worked as a physical therapist (later becoming the director) at the McLennan County Rehabilitation Center. From there she took a PT position at the VA Hospital in Waco, TX, retiring in 1987. Rebecca enjoyed tending to her cows, gardening, driving her mule, story telling, reading, supporting the Democratic Party, playing sports, and watching football, especially the Kansas City Chiefs and her favorite quarterback, Tom Brady. She loved spending time with her family, especially attending her grandchildren's activities and events.

Rebecca is also preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Smith Higgins; a sister, Sally Cook; and a son-in-law, William Branch.

Survivors include her children, Joe Ed Brockett III and wife Marie of Hubbard, Candy Branch of Elm Mott, Judy Monk and husband Roger of Fulshear, and Jane Wilson and husband Greg of Cleburne; nine grandchildren, Joshua and Renee Brockett, Joel and Arabella Brockett, Rebecca and Nicholas Beyda, Jodi and Dante Peduzzi, Matthew and Melissa Monk, Bonnie Wilson, Elizabeth Wilson and Ronald Becker, Stephan Wilson, and Ken Wilson; nine great grandchildren, Rebekah, Rachael, Isabelle, Dominic, Nathan, Elena, Louisa, Molly, and Elias; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Waco Methodist Home or MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas.