Glenda Faye Cochran, 83 years old, of Greenwood, Arkansas peacefully passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2026, in her home, surrounded by family members. Glenda Faye McLemore was born January 7, 1943, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She was one of 12 children and frequently moved between Oklahoma and California during her childhood due to her father’s job as a lumber inspector.
As noted, Glenda grew up in a large, loving family and they shared many adventures together. She graduated from McCurtain High School in 1961. After graduating she worked in the Tuberculosis Sanitorium in Booneville, Arkansas as a switchboard operator and librarian, living full time in the campus dormitory.
She later moved in with her oldest sister and while attending church, met Dale Cochran who taught a Sunday School class. After a year of dating, they were married on June 23, 1963. They were married for 59 years before Dale passed away at age 96. Together they had two children, Deanna Cochran and Shawn Cochran. “Granny” also loved her grandchildren, Andrew Yarbrough, Silas Cochran, Sam Cochran, and Sarah Cochran.
Glenda worked at Greenwood Industries for 17 years and with the Fort Smith school system in the cafeteria until retirement. She was a talented seamstress and made many wedding dresses, prom dresses, clothes for both kids and her collection of dolls, along with pillows and curtains for dorm rooms and apartments.
She also loved to garden and was happiest in the yard taking care of her flowers, plants and feeding the hummingbirds. Always a pet lover she welcomed every stray cat or dog that showed up and was affectionately known as a great “pet” granny.
Her greatest joy was her grandchildren who she loved and spoiled as much as possible. She also lovingly shared her faith and love of the Lord with them. She poured her time into each one, and they all knew her love was as constant as her prayers for each of them.
Glenda is survived by daughter, Deanna Yarbrough and husband, Tim of Greenwood, Arkansas; her son, Shawn Cochran and wife, Keri of Custer, South Dakota; grandchildren, Andrew Yarbrough and wife, Sierra, Silas Cochran, Sam Cochran and Sarah Cochran, she also leaves behind a sister, Fran Watts of Roland, Oklahoma.
A service to celebrate Glenda’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Friday August 28 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel, located at 137 N Main Street Greenwood, Arkansas, burial will be at Pine Log Cemetery in Barber. Visitation with friends and family will be held on Thursday evening from 5 – 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Tim Yarbrough, Shawn Cochran, Carl Schneider, Drew Cochran, Gary Stovall and Jeremiah Young. Honorary pallbearers will be Gene Hamm, Harold Daily and Randy Leftwich.
