Ethel M. Cockson

Ethel M. Cockson

May 23, 1922 – Jan 10, 2018

The family will receive friends on Friday, Jan. 19th from 5pm to 7pm at the West Center Chapel, followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm.  SERVICES Saturday, Jan. 20th at 9:30am, West Center Chapel to St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 6116 Dodge St., for MASS at 10am.  Interment, Calvary Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to the National Epilepsy Foundation, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, or Hospice House of Omaha.

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Ethel May (Hall) Cockson, of Omaha, Nebraska, died of natural causes on Wednesday night, January 10, 2018. She was 95 years young.

Mrs. Cockson was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 23, 1922. As a child, she moved with her family to a small farm south of Columbus, Nebraska.  After she graduated from high school in 1940, she become a secretary, excelling in typing and shorthand, and was hired as a secretary to the General Manager of the J.C. Penney store.

In January of 1943, she gave up her fledgling career to wed Arthur T. Cockson.  For the next 14 years she was a farmer’s wife. In 1957, a prolonged drought forced the family to liquidate its farm assets north of Richland, Nebraska and move to Audubon, Iowa.

In 1960, Mrs. Cockson, her husband and their six children moved to Omaha, where she began working as a secretary and file clerk at Northern Natural Gas. Northern eventually merged with Houston Natural Gas to become Enron Corporation. She was still working part-time in 2001, when Enron declared bankruptcy, costing nearly 20,000 employees their jobs and their savings.

Mrs. Cockson loved playing bridge, bowling, traveling, sewing and going to the movies.

Mrs. Cockson was preceded in death by her husband, Art; her eldest son, Craig; and three of her four brothers: Ray, Bob, and Darrell.  She is survived by five of her six children: Kent (Sylvia) of Foley, Alabama, Denise Ott (Daryl) of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Mark of St. Louis, Dwight (Sandy) of Ballwin, Missouri, and Scot (Carla) of Apex, North Carolina; a daughter-in-law, Joyce, of Omaha; a brother, Bill Hall of Ocala, Florida; a sister, Eleanor (Hall) Onak of Lakeland, Florida; fifteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

 

 

 

9 Comments

  • Virginia Crimmins Westcott Posted January 12, 2018 8:29 am

    Our Heartfelt condolences to All of Mrs. Ethel Cocksons FAMILY Church & friends .She blessed this life with Her endearing leadership as a Mother. We are counted as fortunate to have known the glistening light in her eyes from above her fine Nebraska sence of humor had the timing of the stars I found her ro be the most fashionable women Id ever known. Ethel dressed as Jaclyn Kennedy teatime was incredibly picturesque fun and formal! .Her daughter Denise didn’t get her distinction from the wind.The Whole family have her incredible individualality of being. Faith Hope &Love but most of all LOVE.thankful that you all have each other and that we have you..God Bless you and know we are with you in Spirit but most of all LOVE. For Love never dies it lives forever &ever God’s loving grace on you all at this hard time.Hugs to all the family fathers mother’s sisters brothers &Dearest Grandchildren .With Heartfelt affection Virginia &Matthew Westcott family in Fredericksburg Virginia.

  • Scott Werner Posted January 13, 2018 1:14 pm

    I will always remember Ethel as a great bridge player. I really enjoyed talking with her. She will be missed by all who knew her.

  • Nancy Ewin Posted January 14, 2018 2:50 pm

    Ethel and my mother were long time bridge partners and saw each other at Sunday mass at St Margaret Mary’s each week. Ethel never let the snow keep her from Sunday mass or bridge. We were blessed to know her and she attended my mother’s funeral in June. As my nephew said, they are surely playing bridge in heaven now.
    Nancy Ewin

  • Mary Brock Posted January 16, 2018 1:58 pm

    My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I have known Ethel most all of my life.and admired her talents
    and beauty and her style. She was a great face book friend. I will miss her.

  • Marianne Clark Posted January 17, 2018 8:37 am

    January 10th I lost a mother figure and dear friend. Forty-nine years of a wonderful friendship. You might be gone but will never be forgotten. Until we meet again……….

    PS “If I would have only finished my soup”!

  • Sharon & Jerry Gascic Posted January 17, 2018 10:26 am

    Emi, sorry to hear of the loss of your Grandmother. You’re in our thoughts and prayers. Love and hugs.

  • Cristi saunders Posted January 18, 2018 9:05 pm

    May God bless my dearest sister friend, Denise, and her family during this beautiful time for Ethel’s soul. Our mothers hold in their hearts all the beloved stories of our childhood and the secrets of how they made our lives special. The first I met my friend, Denise, she was dressed elegantly and spoke elegantly and always spreading God’s word. The first I met her mom, Ethel, it was apparent where she got her sense of style and her deep faith. Her mother loved her so. I think of the scrapbooks she made of Denise’s life, each important event captured between pressed pages. Reeling through them with Denise allowed me to learn many things about Ethel. There was such elegance and attention to detail in everything she did. I am honored to have met her and to have had her family in my life. I am richer for that. Much love and all my prayers to you, Daryl, your children and grandchildren and your brothers and their families.

  • Amy Riggs Posted January 19, 2018 5:30 pm

    I sure am going to miss Ethel. Such a special lady. I truly enjoyed our chats and hearing what was going on in her world. Never a hair out of place on this woman … she was always looking beautiful and had so much spunk! I wish we could’ve had just one more lunch meeting together. Deepest condolences to the family and especially to her children whom she spoke of with such love in her heart.

  • Adelaide Szynskie Posted January 20, 2018 9:26 am

    I got to know Ethel through a mutual friend, Lynn Labenz.. We would visit when we both attended “Senior. Saints”. programs at St. Margaret Mary Parish. I will miss seeing Ethel there. My condolences to her family.
    Adelaide Szynskie

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