Derik Lynn Hockett was born on June 14, 1979, in Ulysses, Kansas. He is the youngest of three sons born to Dean and Sherry Hockett, who still live on the family farm west of Satanta, Kansas, where Derik was raised. His older brothers, Daren and Dusty, reside in Oklahoma and Satanta. Derik attended school in the Satanta school district and graduated in 1998. He then attended Dodge City Community College, earning an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science, followed by a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science from Pittsburg State University in 2002.

After college, Derik began working for AGCO in Hesston, Kansas, as a Technical Writer and later as a Technical Training Specialist, roles that involved both national and international travel. While in Hesston, he met Tricia through a mutual friend who lived nearby. Derik and Tricia were married on a tree farm outside Hesston on June 25, 2005. In 2006, they moved to Satanta, where Derik began a new career in the oil and gas industry and Tricia took a teaching position in Ulysses. Derik currently works for Experitec as an Account Manager, and Tricia is the director of the Satanta Senior Center. They have two sons, Jalynn Dean (16) and Deacon Coy (14), who are involved in football, cross country, basketball, track, FBLA, FCCLA (serving as district and local officers), FFA, forensics, STUCO (as officers), and KAYS.

Derik serves as Treasurer for Hugoton Scout Troop #189 and previously served on the committee for the Grant County Home Products Dinner from 2016 to 2019 and again in 2021.

Derik’s involvement in Masonry began in July 2007 through a connection with a coworker at the Grant County Fair. He was raised to the degree of Master Mason on February 14, 2008, at Ulysses Lodge #435. He has held every office in the lodge except Secretary and is a plural member of Hugoton Lodge #406, Tuscan Lodge #460, and the Kansas Lodge of Research. He served as District Deputy Grand Master from 2017 to 2021 and as Area Deputy Grand Master from 2021 to 2022. He was Grand Standard Bearer in 2018–2019 and was appointed Grand Senior Deacon by M.W. Mikel Stoops in 2021. Derik is also a member of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, Valley of Wichita, a Noble of Midian Shrine, and is currently completing his York Rite degrees.