James G. Cochran, resident of Salina, Oklahoma, passed away on February 20th, 2021 at Saint Francis hospital in Tulsa.

"Jim" was born near Eucha, Oklahoma on July 25th, 1925. His family of seven lived on a farm near Eucha, Oklahoma during the depression. He and his siblings attended Jay, Oklahoma schools. His brother Howard entered the Army in 1942 and was killed in action in France. Jim entered the Navy in 1943 as a Radarman and saw action in the Pacific. His ship was grazed by a Kamikaze during action near Okinawa. On leave during his service, he met his future bride and the mother of his four sons Florine Evelyn Earnest, in Portland, Oregon. At the time, Florine worked at the Portland shipyards. They later married in January of 1946 and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. They divorced in 1978, and she preceded him in death April 23, 2018. She is buried in Fairfax, Oklahoma.

Jim began working at the fledgling American Airlines in 1947. He worked there under salary and contract for a total of 38 years as a Fleet Coordinator. In the 1960s, he was part of a team in Miami, Florida and New York City that helped launch the groundbreaking Boeing 757 airplanes. Jim retired fully from American Airlines in 1985.

Jim was again called up to action in the Korean War. His ship was hit with what appeared to be a mine, the only ship damaged during the war. The explosion centered near his bunk, and he had just gone to shower and was coming back from the infirmary with a headache when it happened. 28 of his shipmates were killed. Jim maintained his affiliation with the Navy in the Naval Reserve after the war, and was stationed at the old Naval Reserve training station formerly at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds. His job was to train incoming recruits for a year to help them enter active duty in the Naval Reserve. Jim had a total of 34 years of service and retired from the Navy in 1977. During his service in both wars, he was awarded the Purple Heart and Korean Service Medal with Bronze Star among a total of six wartime awards.

For 22 years, Jim was head usher for the Tulsa Oilers baseball franchise. He was honored for his service to our country and Tulsa baseball by the current Tulsa Drillers at OneOK Field in July of 2017 on his 92nd birthday.

In 1981 Jim married Margie C. Reynolds. Together they built a beautiful home east of Salina, Oklahoma in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Among other things, they operated JMarCO fabric and sewing machine repair business in Salina for 11 years. Jim was voted the Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter in Salina. He was credited with saving the organization financially. He remained an active member of the VFW and American Legion in Salina up to a year before his death. Margie preceded him in death on October 6, 1998. She is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa.

Jim is survived by his sons Randy and wife Brenda of Tucson, Arizona, son Larry and wife Deborah of Tulsa, Oklahoma, son Norman and wife Terri of Springfield, Missouri, and son Clay of Salina, Oklahoma, sister Janice Sutton and husband Cliff of Woodlands, Texas, sister Josephine McDaniel of Olathe, Kansas, and brother Leon and wife Bamah of Jay, Oklahoma.

He is also survived by grandchildren Matt, Tiffany, Randy Lee, Drew, Rachel and Ben, six great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. Jim enjoyed his family, playing guitar and reading. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association in his honor.

Viewing will be 12Noon-8PM, Sunday, March 7 2021 with family greeting friends from 2-4 PM at Moore's Southlawn, Tulsa, OK. Funeral service will be 2:00 P.M., Monday, March 8, 2021 at Moore's Southlawn Chapel, Tulsa, OK. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233