Dr. Charles M. Cocanougher

Decatur ~ Dr. Charles Marion Cocanougher, DVM, 84, a retired veterinarian, went to be with our Lord Friday, March 25, 2016 in Decatur.

Funeral is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in Decatur with private burial in Oaklawn Cemetery. Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home.

Dr. Brian Bosworth will officiate. Pallbearers include Benjamin Moore, Matthew Moore, Austin Battaglia, Alex Battaglia, Autumn Battaglia,

John David Short, Charlie Short, Blake Cocanougher, Ethan Cocanougher,

Chris Anne Cocanougher, Elizabeth Irons, and Kyle Irons. Honorary pallbearers are Jim Richards, Ed Cooper, Hal Reese, Arnie Deaton, Lee Larson, and Raymond Galvin.

Dr. Charles M. Cocanougher was born on January 11, 1932 to Marion and Lucille (Stallings) Cocanougher in Decatur, Texas. He was united in marriage to Jo Ann Gary on August 28, 1954 in Fort Worth.

He graduated from Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine in 1955. He was a member of the Corp of Cadets and played the trumpet in The Fighting Texas Aggie Band. He was also voted Who’s Who on Campus at Texas A&M. He started his veterinary practice in Decatur, Texas, and then was called into service and served in the USAF as a Captain and base veterinarian, and he also served in the Air Force reserves. In addition he started a manufactured housing park, Meadow Lake Village and a self-storage business, Decatur Self Storage, while practicing veterinary medicine. After his retirement from his veterinary practice he continued to manage these two businesses.

Dr. Cocanougher was an active member of his community and church. He was a life long member and held multiple leadership roles of the First United Methodist Church. He was president and rodeo secretary of the Wise Co. Sheriff's Posse. He was instrumental in establishing the Decatur Public Library and served as a board member for many years. He served as a city councilman for the City of Decatur, was a past president of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in bringing POCO Graphite to Decatur. In 1985, he was awarded Decatur Citizen of the Year. In addition he was a member of the Decatur Rotary Club, was the chairman of the Wise Co. American Heart Association chapter and past chairperson for the Wise Co. Appraisal District. Dr. Cocanougher served on the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) board of directors and was a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Education and mentoring were important to Charles. He created and funded a National Honor Society Scholarship given in memory of his aunt Faye Cocanougher at Decatur High School.

Dr. Cocanougher and his wife were also generous to fellow Texas A&M veterinary medical students by endowing numerous scholarships through the Texas A&M Foundation. He was a mentor and advocate for many young people in the community and at Texas A&M.

Dr. Cocanougher and his wife served on the Texas A&M Vet School Development Council. In 2010, Dr Cocanougher was awarded “The Outstanding Alumni” Award for the Texas A&M School of Vet Medicine.

He was a loving father, grandfather and friend to many. He and his wife, Jo Ann, enjoyed traveling with their family and friends. He supported local sporting events and was president of the Decatur Eagle Club. One of his favorite hobbies was watching Aggie sports.

Dr. Cocanougher was preceded in death by his parents.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are his wife of 61 years, Jo Ann Cocanougher of Decatur, Texas; his sons, Gary Cocanougher and wife Susan of Decatur and Scott Cocanougher and wife Alison of Shelbyville, Tennessee; his daughters, D’Ann Moore and husband Mark of Dallas, Beth Short and husband David of Tyler, and Mary Kay Battaglia and husband John of Madison, Wisconsin; 11 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.

Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home, Decatur, Texas, 940-627-5959

www.hawkinsfuneralhome.com