Carlton Ray Cockerham, a kind and gentle but very stubborn spiritual son of God, drew his last earthly breath and returned to his Heavenly Father on 8 March 2015 while sleeping peacefully beside his wife at his home in Covington, Virginia. He is enjoying a glorious reunion with his Savior, his parents, his first wife, two grandsons, a great grandson, and all of his siblings. Carlton was born in his family's farmhouse on 25 May 1925 near Friars Hill in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, the elder child of Flora Ann Lyall and Marcus Lafayette Cockerham. He completed grade school at the McMillion School and began his freshman year at Renick High School before dropping out to help with the family farm. His father was about 76 years old when Carlton quit school to operate the farm with their team of horses. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps briefly in 1945 at the end of World War II before being discharged from boot camp. He took a correspondence course in radio electronics. While his education was limited, he had a great desire and capacity to learn new things and graduated from the "school of hard knocks" with honors. Carlton married Mattie Ray on 10 May 1948 in Catlettsburg, Kentucky. She preceded him in death in 1991. He moved his young family to Manassas, Virginia, in 1959 for better employment. He worked variously as a carpenter, an electronics technician, and finally as an oxygen acetylene plant manager. He enjoyed traveling, restoring antique cars, and especially wood working. His wooden handicrafts grace the homes of many friends and family members across the country. Carlton married Dessie Hefner Owens on 5 December 1992 near Renick, West Virginia. Besides his parents and his first wife, Carlton was preceded in death by his only full sibling and brother, Herbert Dean Cockerham; his grandsons, Matthew Alan Cockerham and Marcus Avery Cockerham; a great grandson, Christopher Uriah Selecman; eleven half-brothers; five half-sisters; and dozens of nieces and nephews. Carlton is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Dessie Lee Cockerham, of Covington, Virginia; sons Gary C. Cockerham (Nola) of West Valley City, Utah; Alan W. Cockerham (Cathy) of Spotsylvania, Virginia; and Donald T. Cockerham of Rhoadesville, Virginia; stepsons Gerald L. Owens (Regenia) and Brian K. Owens (Rosa) both of Renick, West Virginia; a very special sister-in-law, Hilda Hefner Cockerham; twelve grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; one great great grandson; and dozens of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services with Pastor Dennis Nicely officiating will be held at 12:00 noon on 14 March 2015 at the Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home at 102 N. Jefferson St., in Lewisburg, West Virginia. Visitation with the family will begin at 10:30 am. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Morningside Cemetery Association, % Lucille McMillion, PO Box 135, Renick, WV 24966.