Gary E. Cochran was born on November 29th of 1943 in a log cabin just west of Roscoe Missouri to Iva Cochran and the late Blond E Cochran.
At the age of 2 they moved to the current location where Iva still resides which is only about 3 miles from where Gary was born. Gary came to rest on the evening of December 12th 2009 at his residence only 3 mile south of his childhood home. Gary was a very family oriented man. He was very fortunate that his mother, brother, son, daughter, grandkids, uncle, cousins and a nephew who all lived within a 5 mile radius of him.
Gary graduated from El Dorado Spring High School in 1961. Gary joined the Army in 1964 and later returned home in 1966.
Gary met his loving wife of 40 wonderful years Lavoye Hannah on Labor Day weekend September 1967. Then Gary and Lavoye got married in June of 1969. Their first big surprise came to Gary and Lavoye early in February 1973, which was the son Cole E. Cochran. Their second big surprise came to them in May 1978, which was their daughter Brandy D. Cochran. Their third big surprise came to them in 2001, which is when Brandy married Jason D Matter along with stepson Jayson Bailey Matter in April 2001 and their first grand kid Amie Matter in September 2001. Cole also married Tricia Patroske in October 2001. In the last 8 years the kids have added to the family a few more grandkids Clay Matter and Sammi and Ce Ce Cochran. Which was all a huge part of Gary’s life. Like waking up next to his loving wife every morning and always looked forward to seeing his kids and grandkids each and everyday.
Gary was a very dedicated and hardworking individual. Gary was a welder by trade, which he was very well known for and a farmer by birth. Gary had his own business as a welder Gary E. Cochran Welding. Gary was a very creative welder and would come up with his own inventions which he called CLEM as seen in the picture above. Each new Clem would get a number which could be Clem 25 today and if you ask him in a couple days that same Clem might be number 352. Gary liked messing with his cattle, building fence and most of all working on the farm with his John Deere Tractors. Gary also liked to have what he called quality time which was spending time with his wife, kids, grandkids and friends. Whether it was hunting, fishing, visiting for hours, having a weenie roast in the middle of the timber, taking pictures with the grandkids, or what he called Gatorvating which is going for a ride on his John Deere Gator just riding around looking at the wildlife and the countryside.
Gary preceded in death by his Father Blond E. Cochran and his Father in law “Buster” Hannah. Gary was survived by Wife Lavoye Cochran, Mother Iva Cochran, Brother Gerald Ray Cochran and Jeannie, Uncle Merle Cochran and wife Jo Ann, Aunts Earlene Premer of Independence Missouri and Wilma Howard of Oregon Son Cole Cochran, Daughter in law Tricia Cochran and Granddaughters Sammi and Ce Ce Cochran, Daughter Brandy Matter, Son in law Jason Matter and Grandkids Bailey, Amie and Clay all of El Dorado Springs Missouri. Brother in law Chris Hannah, wife Lisa of Osceola Missouri and Jerry Hannah and Jennifer of Billings Missouri. Nephews Benny Cochran and wife Lisa, Mark Cochran, Jimmy Cochran and wife Barbara all of El Dorado Springs Missouri. Duel Hannah and girlfriend Angela (or PeeWee as Gary called her) of Osceola Missouri. Justin Hannah and wife Le Ann of Adrian Missouri. And a host cousins, great nieces and nephews. And a large array of Friends.
Gary was loved by many and he will be missed by all greatly.
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