F. Elaine Cochran (Martin)

F. Elaine Martin Cochran passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones, on April 02, 2015. Elaine was born in Coffeyville Kansas and was preceded in death by her parents Loyd E. Martin & Florence J. Biggerstaff Martin and her younger sister June Martin Cochran. Elaine was married for 45 years to V. Dan Cochran DDS, a prominent northland dentist who died in 1995. Elaine was a lifelong member of The Community of Christ Church and attended the Highlands Congregation. Elaine was an ordained minister and held the priesthood office of Evangelist. As a lifelong member of the Community of Christ Church in Kansas City, MO. she was an early supporter of women's and children's issues as a Stake Women's leader, and worked at many youth camps held at Camp Doniphan in Excelsior Springs. Her passion for children was manifested in her numerous years in the Park Hill School System as a PTA leader and an American Red Cross school volunteer. Additionally, Elaine was a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout den mother, and the proud mother/grandmother of 5 Eagle Scouts/Mic-O-Say tribesmen. Elaine attended Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa where she met her husband Dan. Elaine supported her husband while he attended Kansas City Dental College and ultimately managed his dental office for 25years. Together Elaine and Dan went on 9 Health Missions to Haiti and Honduras, affiliated with the Medical & Dental association of the Community of Christ Church, as they both shared a passion for providing dental healthcare to brothers and sisters in need. Elaine and her husband were "Winter Texans" for more than 10 years spending Jan - March on South Padre Island where they attended the Los Fresnos Congregation of the Community of Christ donating a baptismal font and a palm tree meditation garden. Elaine had a love for music and was an accomplished celloist, pianist and organist. She had a beautiful soprano voice and sang in the Highlands Congregation Choir and the Independence, Mo Messiah choir while traveling to Europe. Elaine was a season ticket holder with the KC Symphony where she invited her grandchildren, and friends many times introducing her guest to classical music. In memory of her beloved husband, Elaine donated a grand piano to the Highlands Congregation in order that sacred music would continue. Elaine loved sports, supporting her brother-in-law Coach Ken Cochran's Marymount Spartans basketball team. Elaine and Dan were avid NAIA fans ensuring that they attended the games all week particularly when the Spartans were in the tournament. When the "new" Chiefs stadium was built Elaine & Dan continued being season ticket holders as they had been at the old Municipal Stadium. The Royals and the Kings were also favorites of Elaine's where she and her husband held season tickets. In the twilight of her years Elaine became a fan of Tai-Chi. Elaine leaves her daughter Maridan Cochran Christensen and son-in-law Larry Christensen, sons: David Martin Cochran & daughter-in-law Gini Cochran, Douglas J. Cochran DDS & daughter-in-law Kimberly Cochran, and Alan Cochran and his partner Jose Vazquez. Elaine was a loving Grandmother of Jennifer Cochran Chase, Garret T. Cochran DDS, Laura Cochran, Megan Christensen, Shelby Cochran, Daniel Martin Cochran and Melia Carter. Elaine's dear first cousins Jim Martin of Roswell, NM, Kathe Martin Copeland of Joplin MO and Shirley O'Dell of Independence, MO. survive her. Lastly, Elaine has long time friends and family in Independence, MO; Prairie Village, KS; Kansas City North; Chicago, IL; Indianapolis, IN; Blue Springs, MO; Salina, KS; and Joplin, MO. The family would like to express our gratitude to the staff at the Brookdale Shawnee for the outstanding care and love they offered for over 3 years while she lived there. Elaine was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, friend, Aunt, businesswoman, and minister and will be sorely missed. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, April 6, 2015 at the Highlands Community of Christ, 7615 N. Platte Purchase Dr., Kansas City, MO 64152. Visitation will proceed from 9:30 a.m., until service time Monday at the church. Graveside services will be at 3:00 p.m., Monday at Mound Grove Cemetery. Donations in memory of Elaine may be made to Elaine Cochran Music scholarship at Graceland University or the Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel (816) 373-3600)