Mary F. Cockrell
Heaven gained another angel on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Mary Frances Cockrell passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 93.
She was born June 6, 1925, to Victor Glen Smith and Edna Collier Smith in Jamesport, Mo. She moved with her family to Arkansas in a Model A Ford in 1937.
Mary was predeceased by her sisters, Clara Lou Loper and Stella Mae Kizer; her brother, James Henry Smith; and her husband, J.R. Cockrell Sr.
She is survived by her son, J.R. Cockrell Jr. (wife Pamela); her daughter, Edna Frances Johnson (husband Ronald); six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends, loved ones and extended family members.
Mary was a very loving, kind and gentle person. She believed in a loving and forgiving God and extended that love and grace to everyone she met, regardless of whether they shared her beliefs. She served as the clerk for Shorewood Hills Baptist Church for 14 years. She was proud of the fact that she served as the assistant head of housekeeping at the original St. Joseph’s Hospital. She was also the head cook for the Brown Bagger Restaurant, where she was well known for her specialty: “monster-sized cookies.” But the most important and dedicated job she did was to care for her family and make sure that every one of them knew how much she loved them. She loved to play cards with, cook for and laugh with her family. In her later years, she very much enjoyed listening to live music, working crossword puzzles and visiting with her many friends and family members. Ripples of her kindness, grace and beauty continue to reach outward in the hearts of all who knew her.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home.
A celebration of Mary’s life will be 10 a.m. Friday at CaruthHale Funeral Home with Jeff Smith officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her husband at Pleasant Hill Cemetery following the service.
Pallbearers will be Willie Howerton, Lloyd Howerton, Edward Kizer and Ken Edens, Renee Cockrell, Mickey Plyler.
Honorary pallbearers are the staff members of Quapaw Rehabilitation and Therapy. Our family would like to say a special thank you to all the nurses, CNAs and staff of Quapaw Care and Rehabilitation for the wonderful, loving care and family support they provided.
Guests may register at http://www.caruth-hale.com.