St. Clair County Obits

VETA V. COCKRELL

Services Friday For Mrs. Veta Cockrell
Funeral services for Mrs. Veta V. Cockrell, who died at Ellett Memorial Hospital Wednesday morning, were held Friday, April 22, at the First Baptist Church with the pastor, the Rev. William Moore, officiating. "Nearer My God to Thee" and "Beyond the Sunset" were sung by Mrs. Lawrence Burns and Mrs. William Moore, with Mrs. D.P. Huff at the organ.
Escorts were Robert Nichols, Fred Talbot, J.C. Jones, Ashel Tindall, Forrest Knight and Johnie Bauer. Interment was in Appleton City cemetery, under the direction of Eckhoff Funeral Home.
Veta Vivian Carpenter was born December 30, 1898 near Johnson City in St. Clair County, the second child of Julus O. (Dife) and Katherine (Kate) Carpenter. She died April 20, 1966, following a lingering illness, at the age of 67 years, 3 months and 20 days.
At an early age she became a Christian and united with the First Christian Church in Appleton City. She later transferred her membership to the Overland Park Christian Church of Overland Park, Kans.
She was united in marriage to Alfred Cockrell on November 12, 1916. To them were born six children, Winnifred Thomas of Appleton City; Chester (Jack) Cockrell, Manhattan Beach, Calif.; Wanda Edington, Denver, Colo.; Gene Cockrell, Osceola; Joan Cross, Dallas, Tex.; Billy Cockrell, Kansas City.
Also surviving are 17 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, two sisters, Gladys Schweniker, and Katherine Petty, both of Los Angeles, Calif.; three brothers, Chester Carpenter, Albuquerque, New Mex., Julius Carpenter, Kansas City, Kans. and Ernest Carpenter, Harrison, Ark.; one uncle; two aunts; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Most of her childhood was spent near Johnson City and surrounding area. After her marriage, the family made their home on a farm near Ohio Post office, where most of her children were born and reared. They later moved to a farm near Appleton City and in 1942 they moved to Kansas City, where Mrs. Cockrell made her home until her illness.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and one brother.