The following from Gail Weiscamp:

The following information was taken from a newspaper clipping that I have saved, of  Jim's death. It was published in the Alamosa Courier on Monday, Feb 20, 1978. The article was written by Sylvia Gallegos (Parker).

James Neal Cockrum was born Feb 24, 1943 in Alamosa. He died on Feb 18, 1978 in a plane crash near his Fort Garland home. In addition to his wife and parents, he was survived by two daughters, Kay and Karen of Fort Garland, and a son, Todd Cockrum of Irving, Texas. He also had a brother, Lee Cockrum who still resides in Alamosa. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Feb 21, 1978 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, and he was buried in the San Luis Valley Cemetery in Monte Vista.