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Jerry Lee Cochran
Jan 18, 1931 - Nov 10, 2022
Posted by Martha Reddout

© Marietta Monitor
18  November 2022,  Page 4
Source:  © Watts Funeral Home

Jerry Lee Cochran passed away November 10, 2022, at the age of 91. Jerry Lee Cochran was born at home in Marietta, OK, January 18, 1931, the son of Roy Lee and Hazel Love (Wilson) Cochran. Jerry was always happy being a big brother to his little sister, Anita June.
 
He attended Marietta (Longfellow) School and graduated from Marietta High School with the Class of 1949 and then attended the University of OK. After four years pursuing Dentistry, Pharmacy and ROTC, he entered the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1954. In his 20 years of service, he continued to pursue his education at each Army post with courses in business and accounting, accumulating about 160 hours of college credits. Never in one place long enough to obtain a degree, he used his varied education in all aspects of his life.
 
On September 7, 1951, he married his high school sweetheart, Alice Mae Anderson. Jerry loved playing trumpet in the High School Band. He met Alice on a High School Band Bus. They made their first home in one of the Quonset huts left on the OU campus after WWII. Their oldest son, Christopher Lee, was born in 1954 in Norman, OK. After entering the service, their daughter, Catherine Alice, was born in 1956 in Reynolds Hospital at Ft. Hood, TX. Their second son, Carl Blake, was born in Bussac, France in 1958 and their youngest son, Curtis Randolph, was born in Hampton, VA in 1973. Cochran decided to retire from the United States Army in 1974 as a Lt. Colonel and bring his family back home.
 
Jerry was very proud of his military service and was an excellent officer. He served at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, where he saw the first Army Computer, Univac. He served at Ft. Hood, TX, 1954-1956 as Platoon Officer with the 575th Ordnance Ammunition Company. He served in France, 1956-1959, serving as Depot Storage Officer and Company Commander of HQ Co. and the Military Police Detachment and was also in charge of three Polish Companies that were displaced people after Hitler took over Poland during WWII. At Pantex Army Ammunition Plant, 1960-1962, he was Administrative and Executive Officer in the assembly of nuclear weapons. After the Officer Advanced Course in Aberdeen, MD, he served in Taiwan as Advisor to the Republic of China Army, 1962-1964. He served as Administrative Officer in Nuclear Weapons School in Albuquerque, NM, 1964-1966. He served in Vietnam 1966-1967 and there was awarded the Bronze Star for valor. He returned to Sandia Base in Albuquerque where he served as Liaison Officer in Nuclear Weapons research and development. His next service was as Commander of the 15,000-acre Army Ammunition Plant north of Minden, LA, 1968-1971. Jerry finished his military service at Continental Army Command, Hampton, VA serving as Staff Officer in the Nuclear Weapons Division from 1971-1974.
 
His wife and children were able to accompany him on all his travels except his tour in Vietnam. The family counted 18 different moves in Jerry's  20 years of service. Curtis was born a little late for all the family travels.
 
Jerry and family returned to Marietta in 1974 and enjoyed being near extended family once again.
 
As a child, Jerry attended First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with his family. When he returned to Marietta from the Military in 1974, he came back to his home church. Throughout the years, he served as Elder, Trustee and Chair of the Church Board. He also served on the Regional Board and the Regional Foundation Board of the Christian Church of Oklahoma. His motto was always: "If you are not giving, you are not
 
After retiring from the Military, Cochran was appointed the Love County Motor License Agent and served 25 years as Tag Agent in the Mini-Mall on Main Street. He was twice elected President of the Tag Agents Association and traveled and visited most of the Agents in the state. He retired a second time as Tag Agent and sold the Mini-Mall in 1999. He and his family had built the Mini Mall on Main to serve all of Love County. He always believed in serving the public.
 
In 1982-1984 Cochran was busy helping to build a new First Christian Church building. The old church was built in 1910 and was showing its age. In the years following he served the City of Marietta as Councilman, Clerk, Planning and Zoning Board member and two years as Mayor. He also served as treasurer in the Lions Club and was a member and a secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. Cochran was a lifetime member of the VFW, American Legion and the Military Officers Association.
 
Cochran was very proud of his eight years serving on the Love County Fair Board, serving as treasurer and Fair Grounds Building Manager. He enjoyed renewing all his old friendships through these times. He never met a stranger and many times his family waited patiently while he visited friends and strangers wherever they were at the time. While traveling from one duty station to another, he loved to turn down a side road and his children remember the fun they had during these side trips.
 
He is survived by his wife, Alice Mae (Anderson) Cochran. They enjoyed 71 years of marriage and never found life together dull. Cochran is also survived by his four children: Christopher Lee Cochran and wife Betty Jo of Elkhart, TX, Catherine Alice (Cochran) Gollan and Bryan Call of Colorado Springs, CO, Carl Blake Cochran and wife Laurie of Hattiesburg, MS and Curtis Randolph Cochran and wife Beth Willis of Marietta; 10 grandchildren, Jonathan Cochran and wife Alicia, Beth (Cochran) Starr and husband Charles, Timothy Cochran and wife Tamara, Joshua Cochran and wife Sharon, Capt. David Cochran and wife Nicole, Abby (Cochran) Doyle and husband Wes, Ann (Gollan) Volkmer and husband Major Mike Volkmer, Kelsey (Gollan) Duca and husband Bradley, Scott Cochran and friend Krista Luna, and Stephanie (Cochran) Wilkerson and husband Jason; and 31 great-grandchildren at this time; sister, Anita June (Cochran) Mitchell; nephews, Paul and Terry Mitchell; and many other nieces and nephews.
  Funeral services with military honors will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 14, 2022, at the First Christian Church in Marietta with Rev. Sharen Hale officiating. A private interment will take place at the Lakeview Cemetery in Marietta. Visitation will be Sunday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home Chapel in Marietta.
 
Serving as pallbearers are Dave Garrett, Kermit McKinney, Brylun Anderson, Dustin Scott, and Woody and Bonnie Alexander. Honorary bearer is Ret. Colonel R. Graham Gollan.
 
For those who wish to make a memorial contribution, the family suggest the First Christian Church Outreach Program at 203 N. 3rd St., Marietta, OK 73448 or the Love County Historical Museum, PO Box 134, Marietta, OK 73448. You may also drop off either donation at the funeral home.
 
Online guest book: wattsfuneralhome.com

A keepsake video is available through the funeral home.

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