Evelyn Dockins

SIKESTON - Laura Evelyn Dockins, 82, died at 12:18 p.m. Nov. 30, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

Born Oct. 2, 1922, in West Frankfort, Ill., to the late William Henry and Maggie Mabel Cobb Conner, she worked as a machine operator for 27 years at the International Shoe Factory in Sikeston and for eight years at the Florsheim Shoe Factory in Cape Girardeau retiring in 1986. Also she worked as a seamstress for over 40 years, making dresses and wedding gowns and doing alterations. A volunteer for Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston for 25 years, she worked three years as a nurse's aide at the hospital. She sang gospel music and played guitar for many years with the Thomann Gospel Singers, performing on the Gospel Show at KCHR Radio in Charleston and was a member of the North Acres General Baptist Church in Sikeston.

On July 15, 1939, in Sikeston, she married Chester P. Dockins, who preceded her in death on Nov. 16, 1987. Also preceding her death were one daughter, Nedra Watson, one brother, five sisters, and one grandson.

Survivors include: three sons, Chester P. Dockins of St. Peters, Stuart Dockins of St. Louis and Randy Dockins of Sikeston; five daughters, Brenda Hicks of Arnold, Gloria Morgan of Duck River, Tenn., Linda Hicks and Lisa Grace of Sikeston and Rebecca Andrews of Piedmont; and 22 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston where services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday. The Rev. Steve Tippen, pastor of the North Acres General Baptist Church, will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston.