Obituaries
Margaret Cochrane Willis
( January 6, 1924 - August 11, 2016 )
Mrs. Margaret Cochrane Willis, 92, of Sherrills Ford, NC and formerly of Lincolnton, died on August 11th at her home on Lake Norman.
Margaret was born on January 6, 1924, to Theo Elam Cochrane and Ethel Inez Gabriel Cochrane. She attended Queens College and supported her husband in their family business, Willis Plumbing Company, for 43 years. A faithful member of First Presbyterian Church, she taught Sunday school and never missed her Presbyterian circle meetings. As she grew older, she deeply missed being able to attend “her church.”
A devoted Mother, loving wife, and beloved friend to all those privileged to know her, Margaret has left this world to rest in the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Chris and has been reunited with her husband of 66 years, Winfred Willis, her beloved granddaughter Jennifer Hyder Zimmer, her parents and her younger brother Theo (Sonny) Cochrane and his wife Wanda.
Margaret leaves behind her daughters, Margaret Ann “Spooky” Hyder and husband John, Vickie Carpenter and husband Ken, and her son Tom Willis and wife Amy. She also leaves behind her grandchildren Chip Carpenter, Courtney Carpenter Howell, Andy Willis and Ashley Willis Ivanov, and her great-granddaughters Adi Vera Ivanov and Hayden Howell, her brother Jerry Cochrane and wife Evelyn, and a niece and nephews.
Margaret will also be remembered for her love of the blue sky over Lake Norman and her “tiny” house on the lake, the bird and squirrels that came daily to her porch to be fed, her Presbyterian faith, and her favorite food - ice cream, which she enjoyed while watching her favorite movie “The Sound of Music.” We will all miss the wonderful stories from her childhood growing up during the Depression and her memories of our Dad serving in the Pacific during World War II while she lived on N. Oak Street. Those who knew her will never forget her bountiful holiday table with family, friends and neighbors all invited to savor her Southern hospitality. Her unique wit and incredible sense of humor never ceased to make us smile even on her grumpy “Granny Cochrane” days.
The family would like to thank her team of caregivers: Sherry Rhodes, Vickie Abernathy, Lynn Smith, June Helms and Judy Lowe. She spent the last 4 years of her life nurtured by these wonderful ladies who became her family and their love for her filled her days with sunshine. We also thank Dr. Robert Bundy who took care of her beyond our greatest expectations, also the Dysart and Connor families, her Lake Norman neighbors, who always answered our calls for assistance.
Mom had a full and wonderful life with no regrets. We who loved and cared for her have peace in knowing that she has achieved her greatest desire: to soar with the angels among the jet contrails in the beautiful sky until we meet again.
A service to celebrate Margaret’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Lincolnton on Saturday, August 20th at 2:00 p.m. The family will receive friends after the service at the church.
Memorials in her memory may be sent to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Carolinas Chapter, 4600 Park Road, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28209, or First Presbyterian Church, 114 West Main Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092.
Margaret was born on January 6, 1924, to Theo Elam Cochrane and Ethel Inez Gabriel Cochrane. She attended Queens College and supported her husband in their family business, Willis Plumbing Company, for 43 years. A faithful member of First Presbyterian Church, she taught Sunday school and never missed her Presbyterian circle meetings. As she grew older, she deeply missed being able to attend “her church.”
A devoted Mother, loving wife, and beloved friend to all those privileged to know her, Margaret has left this world to rest in the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Chris and has been reunited with her husband of 66 years, Winfred Willis, her beloved granddaughter Jennifer Hyder Zimmer, her parents and her younger brother Theo (Sonny) Cochrane and his wife Wanda.
Margaret leaves behind her daughters, Margaret Ann “Spooky” Hyder and husband John, Vickie Carpenter and husband Ken, and her son Tom Willis and wife Amy. She also leaves behind her grandchildren Chip Carpenter, Courtney Carpenter Howell, Andy Willis and Ashley Willis Ivanov, and her great-granddaughters Adi Vera Ivanov and Hayden Howell, her brother Jerry Cochrane and wife Evelyn, and a niece and nephews.
Margaret will also be remembered for her love of the blue sky over Lake Norman and her “tiny” house on the lake, the bird and squirrels that came daily to her porch to be fed, her Presbyterian faith, and her favorite food - ice cream, which she enjoyed while watching her favorite movie “The Sound of Music.” We will all miss the wonderful stories from her childhood growing up during the Depression and her memories of our Dad serving in the Pacific during World War II while she lived on N. Oak Street. Those who knew her will never forget her bountiful holiday table with family, friends and neighbors all invited to savor her Southern hospitality. Her unique wit and incredible sense of humor never ceased to make us smile even on her grumpy “Granny Cochrane” days.
The family would like to thank her team of caregivers: Sherry Rhodes, Vickie Abernathy, Lynn Smith, June Helms and Judy Lowe. She spent the last 4 years of her life nurtured by these wonderful ladies who became her family and their love for her filled her days with sunshine. We also thank Dr. Robert Bundy who took care of her beyond our greatest expectations, also the Dysart and Connor families, her Lake Norman neighbors, who always answered our calls for assistance.
Mom had a full and wonderful life with no regrets. We who loved and cared for her have peace in knowing that she has achieved her greatest desire: to soar with the angels among the jet contrails in the beautiful sky until we meet again.
A service to celebrate Margaret’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Lincolnton on Saturday, August 20th at 2:00 p.m. The family will receive friends after the service at the church.
Memorials in her memory may be sent to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Carolinas Chapter, 4600 Park Road, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28209, or First Presbyterian Church, 114 West Main Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092.
Posted on 19 Aug 2016
Current Information
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125 Dave Warlick Drive
Lincolnton, NC 28092
704/735-2521