of Batesville,

December 23, 1914 - March 17, 2013

Margaret Lucille Gray Cochran, 98, of Batesville died Sunday at White River Medical Center.

She was born in Vilonia, Arkansas on December 23, 1914 to Luther Theodore and Lillie Mae (Diffee) Gray.

Lucille married Elmer Cochran, the love of her life, in 1934. They celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary before his death in January 2008. She and Elmer owned and operated Ideal Baking Company where she served on the board. She was always supportive and encouraging of Elmer and joined him in many church and community endeavors, including the establishment of White River Medical Center. She and Elmer were also supporters of the Old Independence Regional Museum.

She devoted her life to Elmer and their family. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Her greatest joy was being with her family and she delighted in family gatherings. She had a zeal for life that not only included her family and life itself, but nature as well. She was an avid bird watcher.

Lucille was a lovely and gracious woman and left her family a beautiful heritage. She was very wise beyond her years and was a very sweet and gentle spirited influence on people's lives. Pam Terrell Williams and Joyce Moore praise God for the sweet memories Mrs. Cochran left and thought she had such class and tremendous love for her family. They also remember the selfless way she cared for Mr. Cochran all those years.

Her longtime friend and physician, Dr. Bob Walton, summed her life up well, ''She's an amazing lady and has taught me a lot about living life.''

Special thanks to her caregivers: Joyce Mobley, Donna Wyatt, Ruth Miller, Rhoda Miller, Diane Sherrill, Deborah Edwards and Judy Slade for taking such wonderful care of her over the years.

Survivors include her children: Elmer Lee Cochran Jr. and his wife, Debbie of Batesville; Mary Margaret Woodsmall of Batesville and her late husband, Dr. James Woodsmall; Sarah Mae Boone and her husband, Nevil of Hickory Ridge; grandchildren: Deborah Shellenberger and her husband, John; Elmer Lee Cochran III; Adam Daniel Farley; Margaret Bulmanski and her husband, Dr. Thomas Bulmanski; Michael Woodsmall and his wife Jamie; Andy Boone and his wife, Leslie; great-grandchildren: John Marc Shellenberger, Rachel Shellenberger, Michael Shellenberger, Courtney Ann Cochran, Caylee Elizabeth Cochran, Caroline Grace Cochran, Dr. Zach Bulmanski and his wife, Jenny, Brady Bulmanski & his wife, Jenny, Emily Bulmanski, Catherine Bulmanski, Anna Clare Bulmanski, Caroline Boone, Olivia Boone, Tess Boone, Taylor Woodsmall, and Kinley Woodsmall; great-great-grandchildren: Joe Bulmanski, Gabe Bulmanski and Genevieve Bulmanski.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elmer Lee Cochran Sr., a grandson, James Lee Cochran; a granddaughter, Teal Suzanne Boone; and her brother, Layton Gray.

Pallbearers will be Nevil Boone, Andy Boone, Dr. Tom Bulmanski, Michael Woodsmall, Lee Cochran, Adam Farley and John Shellenberger. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Robert Walton, Doyle Emerson, Jim Burrow and John Harrison.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the First Church of the Nazarene with Mike Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery under the direction of Roller-Crouch Funeral Home of Batesville.
Visitation will be from 5:00 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the First Church of the Nazarene.

Memorials may be made to First Church of the Nazarene, 1611 E. Harrison, Batesville, AR 72501.

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