Catherine Cockerill Sickles, 90, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 after a decade long year battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born on a farm in Ashburn, VA to Welby and Nellie (Lee) Cockerill. She lived in VA her whole life except for the 4 years she attended Indiana Wesleyan University where she earned degrees in elementary education and music. She met Merrill Sickles, Jr. while both were singing in the Billy Graham crusade choir and were married on July 18, 1952. She was a wonderful mother to her 2 children, Debbie and Mark. Catherine taught elementary school for over 40 years in both public and private schools. Her favorite grade was the 4th because that’s when Virginia history was taught! She was a woman for great faith and served the Lord faithfully in her church as volunteer music director, Sunday School teacher, leader in the children’s scouting program, trustee and administrative assistant to the pastor. Catherine enjoyed music, playing games – scrabble was her favorite, doing puzzles, hot fudge sundaes, loving on her pet dogs (Pookie, Kobi, Gretchen and Sam – not all at the same time!), traveling, watching westerns on TV, reading and spending time with her family. She was a kind and generous woman as well as a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law and sibling. She was a blessing to many, loved dearly and will be missed! We are comforted knowing that she in now rejoicing with her heavenly Father and that her memories, stolen by this cruel disease, have returned to her. She now remembers all the people she loved and who loved her!
Catherine is preceded in death by her husband Merrill, both parents, her brother Lee Cockerill and her sister Marie Wheeler. She leaves behind her children – Debbie McKamey and Mark Sickles, her grandchildren Reese Brackett, III and Laura Lee Brackett and her brother Lewis Cockerill.
