Dessie O. Rock, 96, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, December 5, 2018. Born O'Dessa O. Manos, she was called Dessie by all her family and friends. Dessie was born on April 25, 1922, in her grandmother's house, south of McAlester, OK in the Wise Road area, to Emery Manos and Nellie Stout Manos. She attended rural schools in Higgens and Savanna, OK, until she moved to Fresno, CA, when she was 16 years old. She attended Delano and McFarland, CA schools, until she graduated from high school. After high school, she returned to McAlester, OK, where she married the love of her life, William Carl Rock, Sr., in a Church of Christ ceremony. They were married for 62 years, when God called him home in 2005.

Raised during the Depression, Dessie was content and humble. A servant, she served in a way that her relationship with, and dependence in Christ, was evident to all that knew her. She was exceptionally generous to others with her time, care and love. Being a housewife, was a job she took pride in, and she was an excellent homemaker who enjoyed loving and nurturing her family. As a committed wife and mother, she prioritized her family's needs and likes above her own. She had a gift for true hospitality, enjoyed cooking, and her home was well-kept and always open to family and friends. She had a "green thumb" and enjoyed making things grow in her garden. She also enjoyed fishing with Carl -- he would clean them, and she would cook them. Dessie loved people and had a kind, generous, giving spirit. She exemplified grace and love towards everyone and in everything she did. She valued her friendships and relationships with family, and enjoyed visiting her family in McAlester, OK. Dessie took great pride in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and always gave unconditional love and encouragement.

She loved basketball all her life, and enjoyed watching OSU and the Chicago Bulls. While in Junior High and High School, she played half-court basketball. She played starting center for two years at Savanna, OK High School, and was proud that she was instrumental in leading her team to winning the State championship. She was such an accomplished player, that even though she was the youngest player on her team, she beat a senior out of their starting spot. She liked to tell the story of when her team was playing and her opposing team opponent went high and jumped for the ball, Dessie went down and under, between her legs, and made the shot. For a reward, the team went to Fort Smith.

Dessie gave her life to her Lord and Savior and was baptized on October 16, 1939, at the age of 17, at McAlester Church of Christ, and has been serving Him ever since. She was active in, and enjoyed attending church, and passed her faith along to her children. She loved children and taught Sunday School to 4 and 5 year olds for many years at Springdale Church of Christ, which merged with Crosstown Church of Christ, where she was a founding member. She had a steadfast and unwavering faith which was shown on the last Friday of her life here on earth, November 30, 2018. Her wound doctor and nurse were changing her dressings, which was very painful, so they began singing "Jesus Loves Me" to her to help ease her pain, and to their delight, she started singing along with them.

Always there with a loving heart and guiding hands, she will be greatly missed in the days ahead, but her spirit and memories will live on within each of us because we were privileged to have her in our lives. There is no doubt that Dessie will be rewarded to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant," and we who are saved and know the Lord, have joy in our hearts, resting in the assurance we will be with her again, in Heaven, one day soon. What a day, glorious day that will be!

Dessie is survived by her son, W. C. Rock, Jr. of Tulsa, OK; daughter, Debra Holt and husband, John of Tulsa, OK; 3 grandchildren, Chris Holt and wife, Leah, Micah Holt and wife, Rabecca, all of Tulsa, and Alex Rock and wife, Becky of Mannford, OK; 3 great-grandchildren, Easton and Natalie Holt, and Alexandra Hill; and a lifetime of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Edwin Manos; and sister, Marie Manos Wade.

Visitation 6-8 p.m., Thursday, December 6, 2018
Moore's Eastlawn Chapel

Service 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 7, 2018
Moore's Eastlawn Chapel

Interment at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens
Broken Arrow, OK



Moore's Eastlawn Chapel
918-622-1155