Elaine Ruth (Richardson) Cockerham departed this life February 8, 2025, at her home in Newburgh, Indiana. She was born November 11, 1943, in Pike County, Indiana and attended Otwell High School. She was married to, and later divorced from, Bobbie Dale Cockerham. They had one daughter, Kathy Ann.

Elaine was baptized into the Christian Church and was active in several church groups throughout her lifetime. She was a hardworking, Christian woman. She played piano and sang at church and often went to nursing homes to sing or play for the patients. She was very artistic, doodling pretty little things on the pages of the crosswords puzzles she had a passion for working. She was quite intelligent and loved watching Jeopardy. Elaine moved from her childhood home, Rabbit Leg (outside of Otwell), after she was married, and lived in Petersburg while working in the Pike County Clerk's office for 16 years. She was very active in politics and a fiercely independent lady, ahead of her time on women's rights. After her daughter graduated from high school, Elaine moved to Vincennes and worked for Gilliet-Thomas until she became disabled, due to histoplasmosis, which took most of her sight in one eye and also affected the other eye. She was also a breast cancer survivor. She later lived for many years with congestive heart failure.

She moved to Evansville, Indiana, and then Newburgh, after becoming disabled, to be closer to her girls. She delighted in shopping for flowers and growing a beautiful garden every year while she lived in Newburgh. She adored her family, especially her 'Four Generations of Girls'. She and her girls kept in touch, daily, and part or all of them would do things together a few times a week. She had a hand in raising all three of her girls and doted on them and their little families. She was an amazing cook and loved fixing meals with (or for) her family. She also volunteered her time at area cancer fundraisers and events with her granddaughter Miranda and great granddaughter Jaycee.

Elaine is survived by her daughter, Kathy Cockerham-Wells (Edward Wells), her great granddaughter Jaycee Elaine Almon (and her father Jeremy Almon), her half-sister, Tamara (Richardson) McKinney (Dave), her half- brother, Thomas Richardson (Sue Ellen), a step sister, Anita (Hedrick) Nance (Dave), and a few nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Her father, Osga Elijah Richardson (the wise sage of Rabbit Leg), and mother, Georgia Frieda (Melton) Richardson, preceded her in death as well as her sister, Charlotte Ann Richardson, her granddaughter, Miranda Dawn (Cockerham) Almon, her step mother, Oleva (Russell) Uppencamp, her step brother, Leslie Hedrick (Barbara), and several aunts and uncles. In her youth, she used to stay with her grandmother, Dana Ann (Melton) Coverdale in Osian, Indiana where she worked at her restaurant and learned to cook so many good things. She was so fond of her grandma and missed her dearly.

She loved her former husband's families, especially the Lefflers and Cockerhams, and often spoke kindly of them. She really enjoyed attending those family reunions when they were held. She also enjoyed her Melton family reunions in Kentucky.

Visitation will be held from 12 PM to 3 PM EST on Monday, February 17, at Harris Funeral Home in Petersburg, IN with her funeral service following at 3 PM EST. After her showing at Harris Funeral Home, Elaine wished to be cremated with a later graveside service and burial at her family's church, Vincent Christian Church in Otwell, Indiana. That date will also follow.

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, or River Kitty Cat Café in Evansville, Indiana where she was fond of visiting with the kitties and having a delicious snack. Harris Funeral Home is entrusted with care.