New Boston, Texas -- Woodrow "Woody" Harmon Cochran, of Wylie, Texas, peacefully passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024, in Dallas. Born on September 24, 1938, in Texarkana, Texas, to Woodrow Nash Cochran and Patricia Kestler Cochran, Woody spent the majority of his life in New Boston, Texas.
After graduating from New Boston High School in 1957, he briefly attended Texas A&M University in College Station. Woody soon transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, where he proudly earned his degree from the College of Pharmacy in 1962. His allegiance to the Longhorns was unwavering, and his blood turned orange during his time there.
Following graduation, Woody served as a pharmacist in the United States Air Force at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. It was there that he met and married Della Kay Cromwell on May 28, 1965. The couple settled in Bonham, Texas, where they raised their two children, Keith and Carol Ann.
Woody was a dedicated deacon at the First Baptist Church in Bonham and a beloved community figure, owning McKnights Pharmacy for 25 years. Woody and Kay moved to Wylie in 1991. Woody worked as a night shift pharmacist at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, and later, at Tom Thumb and eventually retired from Brookshires Pharmacy.
A man who thrived on personal connections, Woody deeply enjoyed interacting with his customers and colleagues throughout his 60-year career. He loved everyone he worked with at the pharmacy and referred to them as his family. His passions included spending time with family, attending Texas Longhorn games, cheering on the Rangers, reading, quail hunting, and visiting the casino. He was also a super fan of Costco and Harbor Freight.
A man of deep faith, Woody read his Bible daily and took solace in listening to hymns for hours. He used his cancer diagnosis as an opportunity to share his faith with everyone he encountered, including doctors, nurses, and aides.
Woody was preceded in death by his son, Woodrow Keith Cochran; his mother and stepfather, Patricia and Freeman Cross; his father and stepmother, Woodrow Nash and Alice Yates Cochran; and his sister, Carolyn Jeanne Airheart.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Kay Cochran; his daughter and son-in-law, Carol Ann and Branon Marsh; his daughter-in-law, Hiromi Cochran; his grandchildren, Mallorie, Brecken, and Henson Marsh, Rachel Cochran Adams and her husband, Zac Adams; his sister, Candy Cochran; his brother-in-law, Johnny Airheart; his brothers-in-law, Bobby Parkhill and his wife, Nikki, and Ricky Parkhill and his wife, Doris; his niece, Whitney Airheart Hagstrom and her husband, Brian, and their children, Wesley, Brooks, and Graham; his nephews, Brad Parkhill, and Matt Parkhill and his wife Pattie, and their daughter, Harper; niece Penny Parkhill Wyatt and her children Brooke & Parker; and many other cherished family & friends.
A service will be held at Bates-Rolf Funeral Home in New Boston, Texas, on Friday, September 6, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. Visitation will precede the service at 12:30 p.m. Interment will follow at Red Bayou Cemetery in New Boston. We invite you all to share in Woody's love of burnt orange by wearing his favorite color to the service.
