Lacy E. Cochran, 95, of Mathias, went quietly into the arms of Jesus Thursday, March 16, at Sentara RMH in Harrisonburg.
He was born June 15, 1921 in Greenbrier County, W.Va. He was the oldest son of the late David F. and Ada Hankins Cochran. He is survived by his wife, Florence; three sons, Wendell and wife, Faye, of Mount Jackson, Darrell and wife, Madaline, of Alexandria, and Mark and wife, Joyce, of Raleigh, N.C.; seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He also is survived by one sister, Dorothy Newhouse, of Baltimore. One son, David, two brothers, Joseph and Edward, and two sisters, Edith and Glenna, preceded him in death.
Lacy had a long and remarkable life. He grew up in the midst of the Depression on a small hilly, rocky farm in Greenbrier County. The lessons and discipline he learned there shaped his whole life. Inspired by a high school agriculture teacher, he became the first of his family to attend college, when he entered Berea College in Berea, Ky., in the fall of 1939. He left school in 1941 to work in the war industry in Baltimore; after being drafted in 1943 he served in the United States Army Chemical Corps, including 21 months overseas in Great Britain. He was discharged as a Master Sergeant in January 1946 and returned to Berea to continue his education. He was proud of his service to his country and the fact that all four of his sons, two of his grandsons, and his great-granddaughter also served.
His first day back on campus he met a pretty, charming, and smart Kentucky girl. Six months later, on July 21, 1946, Lacy and Florence were married in the college chapel. Their love and devotion for each other was unsurpassed.
After graduation in 1947 he took his first teaching job in Greenbrier County in the fall of 1947, and moved to Moorefield High School in January 1948 in the middle of an epic blizzard. In 1952 he became the vocational agriculture and shop teacher at Mathias High School and became “Mister Cochran” to generations of students. At Mathias High, Lacy built one of the most successful Future Farmers of America programs in West Virginia. Scores of his students were designated “State Farmers.” Teams he coached won statewide land judging contests and parliamentary procedure contests. Four of his students (two at Moorefield and two at Mathias) won state public speaking contests. One pair of students won the statewide talent contest. One student was named Star Poultry Farmer of America and two won the coveted American Farmer degree. Lacy was named an Honorary State Farmer and Honorary American Farmer in recognition of the success of his students. He also taught adult farmer education programs, helping bring advances in agriculture technology and science into practice. In 1975 he became director of vocational education in Hardy County. In that role he helped oversee the construction of a new county vocational center at Baker. He retired from Hardy County Schools in 1986, but he continued to serve for several years by managing the East Hardy High Scholarship Fund, which he helped establish.
While he was teaching he attended summer classes at West Virginia University, receiving a master’s degree in agriculture education in 1954. He was a staunch Mountaineer sports fan. As busy and successful as he was as a teacher, Lacy had several sideline pursuits, mostly to help supplement his teaching salary. He sold mail order men’s suits from the W.Z. Gibson Co. of Chicago; he sold World Book encyclopedias, and he developed a successful insurance business as an agent for Farmers Mutual of West Virginia. He also was a devoted member of the Mathias Ruritan Club, where he amassed a 50-year-plus record of perfect attendance. He served two terms as president and one year as West Virginia District Governor. Last year the Mathias club honored him as the “Ruritan of the Year.” After moving to Mathias, he and Florence became devout members of Cove Chapel United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday School for more than 50 years. His faith in the Lord carried him all along his life’s journey.
After he retired Lacy continued to manage his insurance agency. He also spent time growing irises, gladiolus, and dahlias much to the delight of those passing by the family’s small Cove Road acreage. He loved family gatherings and especially rejoiced in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was conducted on Monday at McKee Funeral Home by the Rev. Jonathan Hedrick and Pastor Heather Rogers. He was buried in a private ceremony at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Mathias.
Contributions may be made in Lacy’s honor to the East Hardy High Scholarship Fund or to other charities.
All arrangements are being handled by McKee Funeral Home, Baker, WV.
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