Sheriff Don C. Cockrum

DANIEL CHESTER "DON" COCKRUM
1938 - 2012

Don Cockrum was born December 4, 1938, to Peter A. Cockrum and Ruby Evelyn Gilliaspie Cockrum. He had five brothers and three sisters. He was the seventh child. The location where he was born is where First Baptist Church is now located on Spring Street (at the time it was a section of Buzzard Roost Road).

Mr. Cockrum's first real job was as a cook in Kansas City, Kansas, at the age of 15, a job that did for about three years. His next job was as a cook for the U.S. Navy aboard the USS St. Paul Heavy Cruiser for about three years. During that period he married Janice Loretta McCracken. He returned to his home town and they bought their first house. They had two daughters, Christy Lynn and Collette Leah. Mr. Cockrum now has six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Mr. Cockrum served as Baxter County Treasurer for four years. Following that he was Baxter County Sheriff and Tax Collector for two years.  During his term as Sheriff, his wife Janice also served as a deputy.  Following that, he then was Administrative Assistant for County Judge Robert Cohee for 16 months. After that he had three businesses in Mountain Home. He then worked for a major construction company in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Cockrum traveled with this company for about 12 years. 

The Cockrums were fortunate to be able to see all of the states, including all of the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska. They have been to most of the Caribbean Islands and several of the Mediterranean countries.

Mr. Cockrum's last business was Economy Tire Store at 106 Church Street in Mountain Home. After 15 years of that, he returned, and now lives on Denton Ferry Road, right across from Wildcat Shoals in Cotter. The Cockrums have been married for 51 years.

Mr. Cockrum died on September 21, 2012.