Phyllis “Jean” Cochran was born May 27, 1931, in McPherson, Kansas, and passed away June 12, 2024, in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, at the age of 93 years.
She moved to Dewey, Oklahoma, during her childhood and later to Wynnewood, Oklahoma, where she graduated from high school. After graduation, she attended a nearby business school for two years.
Jean enjoyed a successful career spanning over 50 years with the successor companies that owned the Wynnewood refinery. She started with Kerr-McGee, continued with Gary Williams, and eventually worked for CVR Energy until her retirement in 2012 at the age of 80. As the bookkeeper and office manager, Jean was a constant presence among the ever-changing ownership, always ensuring the books were in order and often being one of the first to arrive each morning.
In 1960, Jean married James Emory Cochran at the Wynnewood First United Methodist Church. They shared 45 years of marriage in Pauls Valley until James’ passing in 2005. Jean was a devoted farmer’s wife, meticulously keeping the farm’s books and often preparing meals for a large extended family, who especially loved her famous chicken-fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy. Together, Jean and James raised two daughters, Carolyn and Angie, of whom they were immensely proud. Jean was a loving mother and steadfast supporter of her children’s and grandchildren’s school activities. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Pauls Valley.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, C.V. and Dora Bishop; her husband, James E. Cochran; and her brother, Charles “Chuck” Bishop.
She is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Carolyn and John Williams of Pauls Valley, and Angie and Jon Stolper of Tulsa. Jean is also survived by five grandsons and one great-grandson, James Williams and his wife, Madeleine, of Oklahoma City, Jonathan Williams and his wife, Mackenzie, of Edmond, Oklahoma, Jacob Williams and his wife, Paige, and their son, Waylon, of Pauls Valley, Nathan Stolper and his wife, Allison, of Tulsa, and Matthew Stolper of Houston, Texas. Additionally, she leaves behind two sisters, Penny Boyce of Moore, Oklahoma and Marilyn Shirley and her husband, Robert, of Oklahoma City, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons, James Williams, Jonathan Williams, Jacob Williams, Nathan Stolper, and Matthew Stolper. An honorary pallbearer will be her great-grandson, Waylon Williams.
A memorial service will be held Friday, June 21, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Pauls Valley (401 N. Willow, Pauls Valley, OK 73075), under the direction of Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home. A private family interment at Whitebead Cemetery will precede the memorial service.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Susan Jones, caregivers Lovie and Brenda, and the entire team of Sittin with ANGELS and Valir Hospice. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Pauls Valley.
