Mary Lorine Cockroft

Mary Lorine Cockroft was born on January 24, 1920, in Superior, Nebraska and died on November 30, 2011, at the Mitchell County Hospital Health System, Beloit, Kansas. Her parents were: James and Golda (Reid) Broyles. She grew up southwest of Superior, Nebraska, in the Olive Hill area with twin sister - Maxine, sisters – Verdena, Zelda, Orpha, and brother – Verlin.

Lorine graduated from Superior High School in 1937. She married the love of her life, Arthur Joe Cockroft, on August 9, 1939, at the Olive Hill Church. They were blessed with four children: Cheryl, Daryl, Dwayne and Janice. Later their blessings were added by 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Lorine has always been a very busy lady. Not only did she raise her four children, she loved to have vegetables and flower gardens. She also raised a lot of chickens, but considered that WORK! She did the washing, sizing, and grading of the eggs that were sold in many area grocery stores and cafes. She loved to cook, and was known for her great pies and cinnamon rolls. Many times she would cook for her children when they were working cattle or in the field.

There were many areas of Lorine’s life that Arthur could not understand! She loved to golf, even after her eyesight was destroyed by macular degeneration. Dwayne would take her to golf tournaments that she thoroughly enjoyed. She couldn’t swim, but would get in the swimming pool with her grandkids at the farm with all of her clothes on and have a blast. Arthur and Lorine rode their three wheel bicycle all over Mankato, but mainly in the bank parking lot south of their house, crashing once in a while. They would give their grandkids rides in their baskets if they wanted to! Residents of Mankato would have to call once in a while to tell us that our Mom was lost walking around town, but that they have taken her home! Everyone in town was great to watching out for her. She never wanted to stay in the house, but was always outside looking at her flowers.

Lorine lived in the North Branch, Formoso, Burr Oak, and Mankato areas before she became a citizen of Hilltop Lodge at Beloit. Her beloved grandson, Darwin helped her move to the rest home go smoothly by being there for her and visiting her every day. She became known as the “Dancing Grandma” there, because she tried to dance with everyone! She was never known to ever dance before!

Lorine was a member of the Nazarene Church in Burr Oak and served faithfully as a board member and Sunday school teacher for years until her eyesight failed. She loved her Lord and is resting happily in Heaver with Arthur.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur of almost 70 years, in June of 2009, her parents, sisters, and brother. She is survived by her children – Cheryl and husband, Mitch Woerner of Mankato, Kansas, Daryl and wife, Becky Cockroft of Jewell, Kansas, Dwayne and wife, Linoma Cockroft of Shawnee, Kansas, and Janice and husband, Terry McCutcheon of Burr Oak, Kansas; grandchildren, great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; many nieces; and nephews.

A celebration of life service for Mary Lorine Cockroft will be (was) Saturday, December 3, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., at the Church of the Nazarene, Burr Oak, Kansas, with Pastors Tom Korb and Dan Daniels officiating. Mrs. Lola Wilson will be (was) the organist, and the quartet of Jon and Rosalie Menhusen and Alan and Elaine Smith will sing (sang) “Whispering Home” and “Living For Jesus.” Casket bearers will be (were) Arnold Woerner, Darwin Cockroft, Brian Cockroft, Bret Simmelink, Bard Cockroft, Cameron Cockroft, Marcus Cockroft , Shane McCutcheon, and Justin McCutcheon. Interment will be (was) in the Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, Kansas, beside her loving husband, Arthur. The family suggests memorials to the Church of the Nazarene, Burr Oak, Kansas.

Service arrangements were arranged with Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas.