Margaret "Maggie" Cockman Kitchel

Margaret “Maggie” Cockman Kitchel, age 71, of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away Wednesday, September 9, 2015 in her home from breast-cancer complications. Under hospice care, she died peacefully. Margaret is survived by her husband of 38 years, Dwain Kitchel; her daughter Jacqui Kitchel Wadsworth, son-in-law Beau Wadsworth and step-grandson Tyler of Sevierville, Tennessee; brother, Elijah Cockman and sister-in-law Joan Cockman of Hendersonville, North Carolina; sister Sarah Cockman Myers and brother-in-law Jack Myers of Columbia, South Carolina; sister Virginia Cockman Speaks and brother-in-law Jack Speaks of Statesville, North Carolina; brother John Cockman and sister-in-law Jane Cockman of Sherrills Ford, North Carolina; brother-in-law Darl Fowler of Greensboro, North Carolina; sister-in-law Catherine Cockman of Clover, South Carolina; grandchildren Nathan Alexander of Knoxville, Tennessee; Jacob Alexander of Bloomington, Indiana and Grace Alexander of Sevierville, Tennessee. She is also survived by her step-daughter Elizabeth Kitchel Ethridge and son-in-law Todd Ethridge of Knoxville, Tennessee; her step-son David Laurence Kitchel and daughter-in-law Jennifer and step-grandchildren Brian and Benjamin of Nashville, Tennessee; step-son Dwain Kitchel, Jr. and wife Jordie Kitchel of New Albany, Indiana and step-grandchildren Darren Kitchel and Danny Kitchel both of Knoxville, Tennessee; along with a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Reverend William Curtis Cockman and Callie King Cockman of Sherrills Ford, North Carolina; her sister Mary Cockman Fowler of Greensboro, North Carolina; her brother Wesley Clement Cockman of Clover, South Carolina; and her step-grandson Nick Wadsworth of Sevierville, Tennessee. Margaret was born in 1944 in Morganton, North Carolina and graduated from Hudson Senior High School in 1962. She attended Appalachian State College, married Fred Crawford and their daughter Jacqui was born in 1965. After an early divorce, Margaret worked a number of jobs, including employment by a photography studio; as a result photography became a lifelong passion. In 1971 she moved to Maryville, Tennessee and was employed by the Harrison Construction Company where she was promoted to Personnel Manager. Attending night classes, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Tennessee. In 1989 she retired from Harrison, to start her own company—Tennessee Valley Publishing. She published more than 700 book titles—mostly family genealogies and organization histories. Her interests were many and varied. First and foremost was her family! She was a great cook, winning first place in a Knoxville jambalaya cook off and publishing her family’s cookbook. She spent countless hours researching her family roots, then wrote The Cockman Family History and co-authored with her father The Descendants of Jacob Gurley. She was a prolific reader of fiction and historical novels and enjoyed music and watching collegiate basketball, especially the Lady Vols. She had flings at white water canoeing and golf and when the setting was right could entertain with stories of drag racing and her prowess as a deer hunter with a 30-30 during her earlier years. She was an active Cub Scout leader for her grandsons and a Central High swim team volunteer when her grandchildren participated. This precious, energetic, productive lady will be missed more than words can convey! A memorial service celebrating Margaret’s life will be held 3:00 p.m., Saturday, October 3 at the Hopewell United Methodist Church, 2211 Hopewell Church Road, Sherrills Ford, North Carolina 28673, (828) 478-9625. After the service, a meeting of friends and family will take place in the Church’s Family Life Center. In lieu of flowers, donations in Margaret’s name may be made to the Kim Rowden Memorial Fund, 6450 Provision Cares Way, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37909. This fund helps women who can’t afford breast cancer treatment. Online condolences may be viewed and extended at www.rosemortuary.com. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.

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Margaret "Maggie" Cockman Kitchel

January 26, 1944 - September 9, 2015