Shirley Cockrum (Mansfield)'s Obituary
Shirley May Nettleton, daughter of Edgar and Opha Eva Walker Nettleton, was born June 29, 1946 in Mtn. Grove, Missouri and departed this life on March 2, 2018 at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri at the age of seventy-one years and eight months.
She was preceded in death by her parents, son, Ray Cockrum, two brothers, Ralph and Russell Nettleton, one sister, Martha Hellen Nettleton.
Shirley is survived by two sons, Jason Cockrum, and Gary Cockrum, two grandchildren, one sister, Eva Powell; several nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
She grew up near Mtn. Grove and went to Mtn. Grove Schools. She married and moved to Columbia, Mo. in 1963. Three sons were born to that union.
Shirley lived around Columbia for twenty-four years. She went to school and became an LPN in 1981. She worked at Russ Rehabilitation center where she specialized in quadriplegic care. She moved to Wheaton, Mo. in 1987, where she took care of a quadriplegic patient in his home. She got her RN degree in 1991 and later went on to get her doctorate in Homeopathic Medicine. Shirley became ill with cancer in December of 2014. Her health declined significantly so she moved to Springfield in October of 2015 to be near her doctors and resided in Springfield until her death.
Shirley was a member of the Church of Christ in Springfield.
In her spare time, she enjoyed embroidering quilt blocks, painting pictures, making homemade candy and sewing.
Shirley was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and will cherish the special times we had together.
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