Steven Cochran

Steven Curtis Cochran passed away on August 30, 2020, in Kansas City, Kansas, after an extended hospitalization. He was 72 years old.

Steve was born in Hutchinson, Kansas on July 23,1948. He moved, with his family, to Overland Park, Kansas in 1957. He graduated from Shawnee Mission West High School in 1966. He attended Baker University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1970. He was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

Steve was an Eagle Scout, and he proudly remained active with the Boy Scouts of America, for many years.

After college, Steve worked briefly worked for Goodwill Industries. He also worked as a photographer, both professionally, and as a hobby. In his spare time, he frequently officiated high school, junior high school, and YMCA football and basketball games in the Shawnee Mission area.

Steve later moved to Topeka, Kansas, where he lived for several years before he subsequently settled in Lawrence, Kansas. He was a long time Lawrence resident. He was self-employed in the film developing industry, and he owned several drive-thru photo finishing stores and a film developing plant for many years. He also was involved in the restaurant business, and he enjoyed running a Lemonade stand at local fairs. He loved the atmosphere that the college town of Lawrence provided. In his spare time, he enjoyed sailing at Lake Perry.

In the late 1990s, Steve returned to school, and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing at Washburn University School of Nursing in Topeka, Kansas. He then worked at Bethany Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, he suffered a severe stroke at age 50, but he made a remarkable recovery. However, in later years he developed progressive chronic and debilitating medical issues, which resulted in his placement in a long-term skilled care nursing facility for the past two years.

Steve was affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in Lawrence, Kansas for many years. He appreciated the congregation there, and the spiritual support of the Church.

Steve is survived by his loving brothers, Keith Cochran of Statesville, North Carolina (and his wife Kathy), and Kevin Cochran, of Augusta, Georgia. He is also survived by cousins Bryant and Janet Cochran of Alexandria, Virginia, Karen Clark of Topeka, Kansas, and Thomas Jones, Jr. Additional survivors include nephews and nieces Michael Cochran of Gloucester, UK (and his wife Laura, and their son Fox), David Cochran of Huntersville, North Carolina (and his wife Amber, and their children Kinley and Cole), Jeffrey Cochran of Liberty, North Carolina (and his wife Hannah, and their children Brooklyn and Ryan), and Madison and Brianna Cochran of Augusta, Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his loving parents Leland and Maxine Cochran, and cousins Marketta Jones, Curt Cochran, and Ken Cochran, as well as loving grandparents Floyd and Elma Cochran and Frederick and Florence Jones, and aunts and uncles Burton and Anne Cochran, and Clayton and Norma Cochran.

He also leaves behind dear fiends Arwind Manohar and Dave Burler.

Steve’s life will be celebrated and memorialized privately by his family. His body will be cremated, and his ashes will be interred at the Johnson County Memorial Gardens in Overland Park, Kansas, near the final resting places of his mother and father. Steve would have requested contributions be directed to The Theodore Naish Scout Reservation, in Kansas City, Kansas.