Barbara Ann Wells Cockayne

Barbara “Barb” Wells Cockayne, 76, of Great Falls, passed away on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 due to complications from a recent stroke. Visitation will be Sunday, May 20, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Schnider Funeral Home. The funeral liturgy will be Monday, May 21, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with burial to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Barbara was born on January 6, 1942 to Jesse “Clarence” Wells and Iva (McKamey) Wells in Great Falls, Montana. For the first five years of her life she lived on the McKamey Ranch and had a love for the family and the land until the day she passed. The family moved to Great Falls where Clarence pursued a career in banking. Eventually, she was joined by three brothers and one sister. Barb attended local schools and graduated from Great Falls Central Catholic High School in 1960. After graduating from high school, she attended Merylhurst College in Oregon. After returning home, she went to work for Kessner Homes while Riverview was being built. She held several professional jobs around Great Falls, culminating in a long career in the pharmacy department at the Deaconess Hospital. On December 22, 1962, she married Robert (Bob) R. Cockayne Jr. at St Gerard’s Catholic Church. Bob’s career took them to Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming and returned to Great Falls in 1976 where they raised two children and one granddaughter. Barb loved to camp and travel in an RV, spending time at the McKamey family ranch and hanging out with all the family. Barb also loved having coffee with her friends and relatives when they came to town. She is survived by husband, Bob; daughter Robin (Ross) Beyl; son Robert III (Brandi Szydlowski); grandchildren Jessica (Randy) Yeagley of Great Falls, Lane, Levi and Lexi Beyl also of Great Falls; great-grandchildren Kellie Schroeder, Brian, Caleb, Blake and Brantley Yeagley; brothers Dave (Kathy) Wells of Portland, OR, Jim (Carol) Wells of Ulm, and Rob (Rita) Wells of Billings; and sister Marilyn Wells of Florence. Barb was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Iva. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital and/or the American Stroke Association.