Eva Watson Cockrum
Graveside services for Eva Watson Cockrum, 94, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, June 3, 2021 at Oak Lawn Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Cockrum passed away at 7:03 a.m., Monday, May 31, 2021, at her home.
She was born February 8, 1927, at Fanchion, Missouri, to Rufus and Edna Smith Combs. Eva graduated from Thomasville High School with the Class of 1944; she then attended Southwest Missouri State Teacher’s College ad Drury College in Springfield, Missouri, graduating from Drury College. Mrs. Cockrum taught for 33 years in the schools of Oregon and Howell Counties with 22 of those years in the West Plains R-7 District. Fifth grade was her favorite. She was a member of the National, State and Local Retired Teacher’s Associations. Mrs. Cockrum was of the Baptist Faith. On December 29, 1948, she was married at Peace Valley, Missouri, to Le Roy Watson, who preceded her in death on December 5, 1969. On June 23, 1972, she was married at West Plains to Charley Cockrum.
She is survived by her husband, Charley Cockrum, of the family home; one son, Charles A. Watson, West Plains; two granddaughters, Amber Cook, Portland, Oregon, and Lawren Dupler, Moody, Missouri; two great-grandchildren, Dru and Marlee Dupler; two step-children, Dwayne Cockrum and family, Chickasha, Oklahoma and Barbara Mitchusson and family, Bradley, Oklahoma; and her son-in-law, Ed Alley and family, Bradinton, Florida.
Her parents, first husband, one daughter, Dianna Carolyn Watson and one brother, Vernon Lee Combs, preceded her in death.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
