FLORINE EVELYN EARNEST COCHRAN
Florine Evelyn Earnest Cochran was born October 18, 1925 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She left her earthly life on April 23, 2018 at the age of 92. Florine was the first child of Silas Earnest and Juanita (Younger) Earnest. Because Silas was employed to build pipelines, the family lived in many places during Florine's early years, from the Rio Grande Valley to Montana and many points in between. Florine spent the later years of her childhood and graduated from high school in Elliston, Montana, and always considered it home.
Florine's family moved to Oregon to work in the shipyards and other endeavors during World War II. She had the opportunity to attend Pepperdine College in Los Angeles for a time, which she always talked about as a highlight of her life. She married James Cochran in Seattle, Washington, on January 3, 1946, and they returned Oklahoma and settled in Tulsa. Over the following decade, four sons were born to the couple and they lived on the north side of Tulsa until all the boys finished high school at McLain High. Florine was employed as a clerk at a downtown hotel, she delivered newspapers for the Tulsa Tribune for many years on a motor route, she worked as a clerk at an insurance agency, and at Allied Plumbing. Her final job was at Tulsa Community College where she finally fully retired at age 80. She and James were divorced in 1977.
Florine was devoted to her sons, her siblings, her many nieces and nephews, and as she aged, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Annabelle Earnest Routh Smith and Sineta Earnest Lemons, and her one brother, Ned Earnest, and a granddaughter, Cara Lynn Cochran Thomas. She is survived by one sister, Louella Earnest Nolan; her four sons and three daughters-in-law: Randy and Brenda of Tucson, Arizona; Larry and Deborah of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Norman and Theresa of Springfield, Missouri; and, Clay of Salina, Oklahoma. Florine was the proud and loving grandmother and great-grandmother of seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren and is also survived by eight nieces and nephews and several cousins. She was also loved and supported until the end by close friends.
According to Florine's wishes, her ashes will be buried next to her parents at a graveside service in the Fairfax, Oklahoma cemetery. The family would like to express its deep gratitude to Hillcrest Hospital, Oklahoma Heart Institute, Emerald Care Center, Wildwood Care Center, and Seasons Hospice for their assistance in providing comfort and care through Florine's transition from this life. Funeral arrangements are by Moore Funeral Home Rosewood Chapel www.moorefuneral.com