Charley Bill Cockrum

Funeral service for Charley Cockrum, age 93, of Chickasha, will be held at 1 pm on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at the Main Street Church of Christ in Alex.

Charley was born the son of Thomas Edward Cockrum and Blanche Edith Cockrum (Geary) on February 21, 1930, in Henderson, Arkansas.  He died on January 5, 2024, in Chickasha.

As a youth, Charley and his family moved to Missouri.  He graduated from high school in Bakersfield, Missouri, in 1947.  After graduation, he went to work for the Corp of Engineers building the Bull Shoals Dam.  He married Agnes Maynard in 1949.  In 1952, they moved to Bakersfield, California, where he worked for 76 Union Oil.  He and Agnes divorced in 1966.  In the late 1960s, he moved to West Plains, Missouri.  He met Eva Watson and they were married in 1972.  He and Eva farmed and ranched and he also hauled fertilizer.  He lived in Missouri until 2020 when he had to move to Chickasha after being injured by falling off a ladder at the age of 90 shaking walnuts out of a tree.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Eva Watson Cockrum, his father and mother, brothers Thomas Edward Cockrum, Jim Cockrum, Henry Cockrum and sister Mary Cockrum Lamb.

He is survived by one son, Charles Dwayne Cockrum and wife Janice of Chickasha, one daughter, Barbara Mitchusson and husband Don of Bradley, one step-son, Charles Watson and wife Vicki of West Plains, Missouri and one brother, Harvey Pete Cockrum of Harrison, Arkansas. He is survived by grandchildren Colton Cockrum and wife Casey of Memphis, Tennessee, Dawn Buffington and husband Lance of Tulsa, Lisa Mitchusson and husband Denny of Pocasset, Toni Mills and husband J. R. of Edmond and Daniel Mitchusson of Oklahoma City.  He is survived by great-grandchildren Coleman Cockrum, Callie Cockrum, Valerie Davis, Nikki Davis, Trace Brantley and wife Michaela, Jared Cole and Kaylee, Nathan Mills, Connor Mills and Andrew Mills.  He is also survived by great-great-grandchildren Ryder, Jaxson and Zaxton.

Burial will be in the Bradley Cemetery.  Services are under the direction of McRay Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank Brookdale Assisted Living, Choice Hospice, and Around The Clock for the care they provided.