Melton Cockrell's Obituary
Devoted husband and father and respected businessman Mel Cockrell was born on September 12, 1943 in Shawnee, Oklahoma and passed away peacefully on August 22, 2015 at his home in Plano, Texas, surrounded by his closest family. While their hearts are broken and they will miss him deeply, his family knows that as Christians, they will meet again and when they do, he will be healthy and happy. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon Lee and Lois Lorene Cockrell, his older brother Gary Lynn Cockrell, and twin brother Delton Lee Cockrell. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patricia Ann Cockrell, his daughter Sheila Dawn Cockrell, and son Gregory Leo Cockrell, as well as his younger brother Jerry Wayne Cockrell and sister-in-law Susan Cockrell of Moore, Oklahoma. In addition, he is survived by sisters-in-law Pat Cockrell of Cibolo, Texas, Janice Cockrell of Oklahoma City, Brenda Drake and Nancy Teafatiller of Tecumseh, Oklahoma, and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and countless friends and colleagues. His strong belief in the importance of family began in his childhood. He and his brothers formed a tight bond as they grew up, moving often among panhandle oil towns for their father’s work. Their mother ensured that even with frequent moves, their home provided a loving environment. When the boys reached high school, they settled in Tecumseh, Oklahoma. At Tecumseh High School, Mel met Pat Teafatiller, who he called “the love of his life.” They married in 1962 and began the journey of their adult lives. As a young couple, they both worked to put him through the University of Oklahoma where he earned his undergraduate degree, and had their first child, their daughter Sheila. After graduation from OU, he began his career with General Foods in Illinois. While living there, their son Greg was born. In 1969, he accepted an opportunity with Frito-Lay and the family moved to Dallas. During his tenure with Frito-Lay, they moved to New Jersey and then back to Dallas as his position with the company advanced. During that period, he completed his master’s degree from the University of Dallas. In 1984 he joined the Ben E. Keith Company, where he served as Chief Financial Officer for the remainder of his career. Mel dedicated himself to the company as if it were his own. He loved his work, and often said, “I have the perfect job.” He was a mentor to many, and led by example – his work ethic and business integrity are well noted. He was proud to have the opportunity to contribute to the company’s great success over the years, and continued as CFO until the effects of Parkinson’s Disease left him no option but to retire. He was happy and thankful to remain on the Board of Directors until his passing. Throughout his life, he not only assumed responsibility for the well-being of his family, but also felt a deep sense of responsibility for the employees who worked for him. Although seen as a very serious businessman, he demonstrated compassion, often helping others in many ways with the understanding that his assistance would remain confidential. His immediate and extended family all knew that when you were in need of wise, sound advice on matters both financial and practical, he was the person to call. He had a wonderful, mischievous sense of humor that caught many off guard, but his close family and friends knew they could count on it to pop up and any time – even during his last illness. The family will receive friends to honor his life on Friday, August 28, 2015 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Restland Funeral Home. In keeping with his wishes, there will not be a funeral service. Memorials may be made to The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY, 10018, or support.pdf.org. or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT, 06851 or www.themmrf.org. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243 at Restland Road.
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