Louise Sliger Bockman

Louise Sliger Bockman of Visalia, California quietly slipped from her earthly home into the arms of Jesus on March 27, 2018. Louise was born into life on October 26, 1917 in Cookeville, Tennessee. Her parents were Clyde and Rose Sliger and she was the fourth of nine children who grew up on the family farm. She attended Oak Grove Schools and was raised as a Christian in the Baptist Church near her home. In 1935, she married her school mate and the love of her life, Carl Bockman. After the birth of their first son, Ray, in 1937, the family moved to Los Angeles, California where Carl had been promised a job. Their second son, David, was born in Los Angeles in 1941, however, at the outbreak of the Second World War, Carl was drafted and the family moved back to Tennessee to be close to family. Carl was turned away from the Army and the family remained in Tennessee. Carl and Louise moved their family to Bakersfield, CA in 1956 when Carl was offered a job as a security officer. He later purchased and successfully managed the Alert Merchant Patrol for many years until his death at 58 in 1974. In addition to her husband and her parents, she is predeceased by her oldest son, Ray Delton Bockman, four of her five brothers, Vestal Sliger of Lincoln, CA, Odell Sliger and Lester Sliger both of Cookeville, TN and Cecil Sliger of Bakersfield, CA; and all of her sisters, Hazel Brewington of Baxter, TN, Mary Murphy of Oak Ridge, TN and Julia Alexander of Mt. Juliet, TN. Louise is survived by her son, David Bockman and his wife, Karen of Visalia, CA, their two children, Michael Bockman and his wife, Victoria of Visalia, CA, and Susan Bockman Groh and her husband, Brian of Aliso Viejo, CA. Her son Ray's three children, Tammie Bockman Wagner and her husband, Doug of Bakersfield, CA, Tim Bockman and his wife, Karen of Bakersfield, CA and Todd Bockman and his wife, Stacy of Georgia; her brother, Jerry Sliger and his wife, Bobbie of Cookeville, TN. In addition to her five grandchildren, she leaves behind nine great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Graveside services and interment will be Friday, October 19 at 11 a.m. in the Stewart Cemetery in Cookeville. Rev. Ernest Robertson will officiate.