Rita Denise Odiorne Lecocke, of Plano, Texas, went home to her Lord on May 14, 2026 after a short, valiant battle with cancer.  She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Paul Lecocke; her best friend of 50 years Susan Murphy of San Antonio, and her nephew John Massey of San Antonio, and his family, wife Megan, and children Kennedy and Gage.

Denise was preceded in death by her parents, Col. John C. Odiorne and Marguerite Price Odiorne, and her sister, Joanne Odiorne Massey.

Denise was an Air Force brat who lived in many places growing up before finally settling in San Antonio, graduating from Churchill High School in 1972.  In 1982, she was working as a receptionist for an ENT doctor.  The last patient on a late Friday afternoon was her future husband, who struck up a conversation with her while waiting to check out. Being swept off his feet with her bubbly personality he asked her out. Eighteen months later they were married and off on their big lifelong adventure together. 

Paul’s job took him to the Dallas area in 1987; they built a house in Plano in 1990 and lived there the final 36 years of Denise’s life.  Denise worked in the wireless communications field, starting with MetroCel in San Antonio, then AT&T Wireless and Sprint Communications in Dallas.  All the while she stayed in close contact with her “twin sister by a different mother”, Susie Murphy.  Those two women travelled together to many places, sometimes with their husbands, sometimes with other girlfriends, and sometimes just together. They also talked almost daily on the phone.  Denise retired from work in 2017.

Tuesday night Bible Study at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship was a big thing for her.  Since 2011, she relished seeing all her friends each week to study the Lord’s Word.

Denise was an avid walker and bicycle rider.  She also loved to meet people and always had a smile on her face.  Upbeat, happy, and willing to lend a hand were Denise’s core values. While she and her husband were never blessed with children, dogs and cats were a lifelong love of hers.  She took care of many of her friends’ dogs while they were on vacation, especially after her beloved Zola passed away, always excited that another pup would be coming for a stay.

Denise and Paul did their fair share of travelling over the years, ramping up with trips overseas to England, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Greece, and Turkey.  While many more trips were planned, they are happy to have the memories from a life well lived and travelled.

We can all learn something about ourselves from reflecting on Denise’s life.  She did not judge another person.  Whether they were a doctor or a common laborer, she would strike up a conversation with them in a heartbeat. She didn’t care whether they were rich, poor, Republican or Democrat, black, white, or green. She could not understand all the hate and meanness that seems to have permeated our society today.  She just wanted her fellow humans to feel wanted, happy and loved.  By all estimates, she overdelivered her entire life.  God bless her always.

A Celebration of Life is planned for May 27 at 11:00 am, at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship, 4141 International Parkway, Carrollton, TX  75007,  with refreshments immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Denise’s favorite charity, Second Chance SPCA of Plano, 1700 Avenue J, Plano, TX  75074.  SecondchanceSPCA.org.