D. A. "Cowboy" Cochran

D.A. “Cowboy” Cochran was born on July 26, 1927 to C.B. and Stella Cochran and grew up on the family homestead southwest of Hobbs. He is preceded in death by Gerry, his wife of 73 years, and by all five of his siblings.

He is survived by his four children: Becky (Brice) Kelley of Edmond, OK; Nancy (Dave) Bland of Somerville, TN; Ross (Stephanie) Cochran of Searcy, AR; and Libby (Steve) German of Lubbock, TX.

He is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Nathan (Jennifer) Bland of Tampa, FL; Justin (Heather) Bland of Searcy, AR; Brandon Bland of Memphis, TN; Andrea (Cliff) Sloan of Houston, TX; Chris (Caroline) Cochran of Oakland, CA; Gerianne (John Paul) Leonard of Lubbock, TX; Barry (Jill) Kelley of Edmond, OK; Allen Cochran of Frisco, CO; Julie (Austin) Davis of Portland, OR; Gina (Evan) Moore of Lubbock, TX; David (Logan) Kelley of Midwest City, OK; and Hannah Cochran of Athens, Greece. He leaves behind 15 great-grandchildren: Benson, Sloane, and Blake Leigh Bland; David, Joseph, and Joshua Bland; Barnett and Kylie Jo Moore; Stella and Kellen Kelley; Lucy and James Sloan; Ansel Cochran; and Harper Kelley. He also leaves two nieces: Carole Luck of Hobbs and Beth Nordyke of Buckeye, AZ, and two nephews: Gary Sparks of El Dorado, CA and Keith Sparks of Carlsbad, NM.

D.A. grew up on the family ranch where he herded sheep and raised cattle, the latter of which he continued to do well into his retirement. After high school he served in the U.S. Navy, and then attended Abilene Christian College where he met Gerry Claborn. They married February 24, 1951. He graduated from ACC in 1952 with a degree in animal husbandry. Afterwards he and Gerry managed a ranch in La Veta, CO before returning to Hobbs in 1954. Initially, he worked as a roustabout for Marathon Oil. He later became a clerk and retired after 35 years. He served on the Hobbs School Board, on the board of Pine Springs Summer Camp, and as a deacon then an elder for the Taylor Street Church of Christ where he attended for 86 years. His mother, Stella Cochran, was a founding member. D.A. taught Bible classes at Taylor Street and in people's homes, baptizing numerous people as a result of those studies.

He loved to laugh and to tell stories, but perhaps it was encouraging others where D.A. found his greatest joy. He paid for college students’ books, served widows, and frequently commended people, verbally reminding them of their importance. He believed strongly in Christian education and in supporting organizations that enriched others’ faith, such as Chrisitan camps and children’s homes.

D.A. and Gerry had three hopes for their children – that they would become Christians, if they married, to marry Christians, and to attend a Christian college. Their unwavering pursuit of these goals continues to bear fruit into the fourth generation.

A memorial service will be held June 27 at 1:00 p.m. at the Taylor Street Church of Christ, Hobbs, NM.

Some have asked about memorial donations. The following institutions were very important to both D.A. & Gerry

The New Mexico Christian Children's Home in Portales. Go to https://www.nmcch.org/ or mail a check to 1356 NM-236, Portales, NM 88130.

The D.A. & Gerry Cochran Scholarship Fund at Harding University. Checks can be written to Harding University, and sent to HU, ℅ Advancement Office, 915 E. Market Street, Searcy, AR 72149. Put “D.A. & Gerry Cochran Scholarship Fund” in the memo line.