James Leroy Cockrell Jr.

Cockrell, James Leroy James Leroy Cockrell, Jr., 90, was born April 22, 1918 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to James Leroy Cockrell, Sr. and Lelene Willson Cockrell, and died February 27, 2009 in Houston, Texas. Jim graduated from Tulsa's Central High School and the University of Illinois, and he did graduate study at the University of Oklahoma. He served as a tank commander with the First Armored Division in North Africa during World War II. He was a POW in Oflag 64 in Poland and a Purple Heart recipient. After the war, he returned to Tulsa and worked as Vice President of the Ross-Martin Company for many years. Jim was an active member of the Christian Family Movement in both of Tulsa's Church of the Madalene and Christ the King Catholic Church. He was one of the founders of Bishop Kelley High School. Jim was also a member of the Tulsa Opera Chorus. A chemist and geologist, Jim then turned to his love of rocks and spent his later years in St. George, Utah as president of American Gold Corporation before moving to Sugar Land, Texas. Surviving Jim are his loving wife of 68 years, Margaret "Peg" Cockrell of Sugar Land, formerly of Dallas and Tulsa, daughter Anne Matzelle and her husband Wayne of Sugar Land, daughter Mary Johnson of Carrollton, son Bob Cockrell and his wife Marti of Arlington, daughter Jane Davis and her husband Phil of Sherman, brother Gene Cockrell and his wife Peggy of Tulsa, 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and brother Ross Cockrell. Jim will be buried April 28, 2009 in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.