John Rogers Cochran

John Rogers Cochran, Jr., 74, passed away peacefully of natural causes at Good Samaritan Loveland Village on November 10, 2011. He was born August 27, 1937 in Kansas City, MO to John Sr. and Betty Holmes Cochran. Raised in Columbia, MO he grew to love Scouting and all things outdoors.

While growing up he attended the University of Missouri and graduated from Wentworth Military Academy. Shortly thereafter he found his calling in joining up with the Commonwealth movie theatre chain of Kansas City. Becoming the chief troubleshooter of this mid-America company he worked 31+ years for them and ended up retiring in Fort Collins, CO. The high point of his career was in winning the ‘King of the Sun’ award for best manager during the early 70s.

He met and married his first wife, Penelope Cochran, in 1963. The two of them worked together operating the year-round theatres and running the drive-ins. To this union came three children, Rebecca Jane in 1965 who tragically died from Cystic Fibrosis in 1966. They then had a son John the 3rd in 1966 and Bethany Lynn in 1970. After a divorce he then married Delores Heigert-Connor in 1985 to whom he was married until her passing in 2008. He helped raise her three children Julie, Michael and John Wayne. After retiring in Fort Collins the couple traveled extensively and particularly enjoyed taking cruises together.

During his years he served as mayor of Aggieville (Manhattan, KS) and as a city councilman in Clinton, MO, was Mayor for the Day in Fort Collins, and was highly active in a number of civic organizations. He joined and served with the Kiwanis, Jaycees, Optimists, and Elk’s clubs in whichever city that he currently resided within. He was also active within the Catholic Church. It was his love of Boy Scouts that stayed true throughout his life. He was an Eagle Scout, earned Explorer Scouting’s highest awards, was inducted to Mic-O-Say while in Missouri as well as was Cubmaster of Pack 430 in Clinton, became a Vigil Honor within the Order of the Arrow and served as the Longs Peak Council Lay Advisor to the Order of the Arrow in the early-80s.

His parents preceded him in death as well as his daughter, Rebecca, and his wife Delores. He is survived by his sister Carolyn Cochran Clark, husband David and their two sons Gregory and Timothy, the children listed above and seven grandchildren: Kristine Meares, Kyle Meares, Kraig Meares, Corinne Heigert, Patrick Connor, Lauren Connor, John Cochran, and Christopher Cochran.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Resthaven Funeral Home (8426 South Highway 287, Ft. Collins, CO 80525). He has chosen the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the American Cancer Society as those whom the donations may be made for. Visitation will be held 6-8 pm Thursday at Good Samaritan in Loveland. Services are 10am November 18th also at Good Samaritan in Loveland and burial shall take place at Resthaven.