Roger Dale Cockreham

A life of tolerance, dedication and love Roger Dale Cockreham was born on November 10, 1944, in Muenster, Texas, the first son of Roland Novell and Jewell Belle Johns Cockreham. Roger attended Lake Worth High School and Fort Worth Christian College.

In 1968, Roger married Eva Richards and moved from Fort Worth to Neosho, Missouri. He became stepfather to Eva’s 2-year-old daughter, Annette Michelle, and together they became parents to Timothy Roger and Amy Noelle. Roger and Eva divorced in 1985.

In June of 1993, on a flight from Dallas to Austin to work for a few days, he was seated next to Jennifer Corn, a college student. By the end of the short flight, she had identified several commonalities between him and her mother, Suzanne, and wanted them to meet. They both agreed and had dinner the next evening. A long-distance relationship developed, and he eventually moved to Austin. They were married in November 1994.

Roger was employed in the defense industry and in 2009, after more than 20 years, retired from his position as a Source Engineer for Raytheon Missiles Systems. He continued with contract work in that field until 2016.

Roger, like his father, had a talent for designing and building. He made major improvements to their home in Austin and to their cabin at Lake Buchanan and collaborated with professionals to design a major home addition. He enthusiastically helped friends and family with various projects over the years.

Other passions included writing poetry and prose, enjoying old movies and collecting many genres of music. He wrote hundreds of Haiku and other poems, published a novella, “Leaving for Detroit”, and a fantasy book, “The Journey of Master Chang”. He attended Austin Symphony Orchestra performances for many years.

Additionally, he was an enthusiastic traveler, eager to explore new places and experience diverse cultures, which he documented with his photography.

Roger succumbed to a rare neurological disease that made life difficult for him, but he never complained. When asked how he was, he always responded, “Fine!” He died peacefully on February 5th, 2025.

Roger is survived by his wife, Suzanne, his son, Tim Cockreham; his daughter, Amy Cochran, husband, Steve, Roger’s grandson, Liam, and step-granddaughters Belle and Elyana Cochran; step-grandsons, Christopher and Jacob Owens; stepdaughter Jennifer Dodson, husband, James, and their daughters, Kayleigh and Megan; his siblings: Lynn Cockreham and wife, Doris, of Peabody, MA; Jerry Cockerham and wife, Eileen, of Midlothian TX; Joy Arnold of Granbury TX, Norma Cornell and husband, Randall, of Hawkins, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews. Roger is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Alvin Cockreham, and his stepdaughter, Michelle Owens.

Family and friends will gather for a Celebration of Life to share their memories of Roger, honoring the remarkable person he was. Gifts to honor Roger may be made to organizations that he supported, including AARP, Central Texas Food Bank, Humane Society, Planned Parenthood, Wikipedia, American Heart Association, Environment Texas, The Negro College Fund Foundation and the American Indian College Fund.

Roger’s loss leaves a void in the lives and hearts of those close to him. His example of patience, tolerance, dedication and love will live on through those who had the honor of knowing him.