Rexine Eunice Cockroft
Rexine Eunice Cockroft of Springport passed away on Saturday, June 6, at the Jackson Henry Ford Hospice Home at the age of 95, with her daughters at her side. She was born on 8-19-1930 to Carson Dewitt and Gladys Viola Lindley Noakes.
She attended Dalrymple Elementary School and Washington Gardner High School where she graduated in 1948. She married William Virgil Brigham of Parma and had three children: Wiliam Virgil Brigham, Jr., Sandra Bea Brigham, and Brenda Sue Brigham (Walters). After Virgil died, she married and later divorced Donald Chambers of Concord. To that union was born a son, Dean Earl Chambers. In 1956, she married the love of her life, Gilbert Cockroft, and they had a daughter, Helen Lee Cockroft (Manthei).
Rexine and Gilbert owned and operated Uncle Gilly’s Concessions for over 60 years. She played Mrs. Claus with Santa Gilbert for over 50 years. They also owned and showed antique tractors. At the age of 17 she competed in the 4-H State Tractor Maintenance Competition, competing against 2,000 boys winning FIRST PLACE.
She was a lifetime member of the Concord Pulaski Memorial American Legion Aux. 81, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, and the Auxiliary to the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War Jackson Austin Blair Camp 7. She was also a member of the Fredonia Grange.
Rexine was preceded in death by her children: William Brigham, Jr., Sandra Brigham, and Dean Chambers; and siblings: Leon and DeVere Noakes, Shirley Van Buren, and Iris Ball. She is survived by a sister, Vernice Gaines; daughters, Brenda Brigham Walters and Helen Cockroft Manthei; bonus son, Elias Perez; grandchildren: Tracey and Timothy Chambers, and Michael, Kevin and Brenda Manthei; great grandchildren: Carson and Alayna Chambers, Levi Rogers, and Brice, Hunter, Fawn, Nicolas, Bradlee, Chase, Cameron and Mikayla Manthei; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A visitation was held Wednesday, June 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Vicker’s Funeral Home, 121 Pearl St., Springport, Michigan, where funeral services were held on Thursday, June 11 at 11 a.m. with Chaplain Brenda Brigham Walters officiating. A luncheon was held immediately following at the Springport VFW. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Concord Pulaski Memorial American Legion Auxiliary #81, 211 S. Main St., Concord, MI 49237. Arrangements entrusted to Vickers Springport Funeral Home, PO Box 235, Springport, Michigan, 49284.