Leroy Francis Kochert

Leroy Francis Kochert, DDS, was born May 27, 1936 in Bradford, Indiana to Leonard and Lucille Kochert. He graduated with honors from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1960. Leroy and his wife, Judy, moved to Arizona where he associated in the practice of general dentistry with Dr. Kenneth Fuller in Tempe. In 1970 Leroy opened his own practice at the newly built Terra Southern Medical Plaza. He was the 1977 recipient of the Honor Award from the Arizona Public Health Association for his untiring efforts to bring water fluoridation to the residents of Tempe. Leroy has a passion for dental health and was instrumental in many efforts including a volunteer staffed dental clinic at Mesa Lutheran Hospital, Tempe School Districts "Brush In" program to educate children during National Children's Dental Health Week, "No Charge Thursdays" where patients of all ages could come and receive free dental care, and a "Head Start" program that provided free dental check ups for preschool students. He retired from dentistry in 1995. Leroy was an accomplished skier, hiker, sailor and pilot. Sharon Hope Kochert was born December 11, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan. Sharon, an only child, spent her early years working for the airlines. She and her husband Tom Bowling had one daughter, Nichole. Tom died tragically before Nichole was 2 years old, and when Nichole was 5, Sharon moved to Portland, Oregon where she married Raoul Meekcoms, a real estate agent. Five years later they had Alexandria, living in the Portland area until relocating to Arizona in 1986. In 1982 Sharon was diagnosed with Spasmodic Torticolis, a rare degenerative nerve disorder similar to Parkinson's. After surgery and a successful recovery, Sharon became an activist for the National Spasmodic Torticolis Association (NSTA), organizing support groups and raising funds to help support the organization. In April of 2000, Sharon married Leroy, a man who shared her passion for life and travel. Leroy and Sharon enjoyed many adventures, including a monumental journey sailing across the Pacific Ocean to Australia, where they enjoyed the company of numerous close friends until December of 2006. They died Sunday, April 29, 2007 as a result of a plane crash off the coast of Carlsbad, California. Also passing away was Sharon's daughter, Alexandria Laine Meekcoms, a former teacher, coach and fitness model. Leroy is survived by his sons, Scott and Dean; his daughter, Monica; step-daughter, Nicole and grandchildren, Tim, Matthew, Taliyah and Kaj.
Sharon is survived by her daughter, Nichole Burgan; grandchild, Taliyah Miller-Burgan, 10, Kaj Burgan, 5 weeks, and numerous extended family members. Their families will receive friends at 6:00 pm, Monday, May 7, with a celebration of their lives to follow at 7:00 pm, at Tempe Mortuary, 405 E. Southern Ave., Tempe. A memorial mass for Leroy will be held on Tuesday, May 8 at 10:30 am at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 2121 S. Rural Rd., Tempe. A Shabbat for Sharon will be held at Temple Emanuel in Tempe on Friday, May 11.