Mary Susan Phillips Cochran was born in Haileyville, Okla. to Tydfil Richards Phillips and Frank Benning Phillips on April 4, 1916, and died in Oklahoma City on October 10, 2008. A memorial service will be Friday October 17, at 4pm in the First United Methodist Church, Wewoka, OK.
The family moved to Wewoka, OK, in 1924 and she lived most of her life there. In 1939 she married Fredric Ervin Cochran and they had a daughter, Susan Cochran Gau. Mr. Cochran preceded her in death in 1982.
Mary Sue was active in community, social and church activities. She was a dedicated Christian and an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Wewoka where she sang in the choir.
She was a graduate of the University of Oklahoma where she was a member of the Delta Gamma Fraternity and taught school before her marriage.
She was an active member of many organizations, among them: The University of Oklahoma Founders and Touchdown Clubs. She also served four years on the Alumni Advisory Board at O.U. She was a member of the Oklahoma City Petroleum Club and was a founding member of the Seminole Nation Museum Board. She was also chairman of the Centennial Celebration in Wewoka in 1966 which was the founding organization of the museum itself. She was an active member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, the Athenaeum Study Club, the Arts and Crafts club and the Hyacinth Garden Club, of Wewoka.
She enjoyed traveling in Europe and around the world. Her special interests were music and art. She sponsored and directed a girls’ Sextet in the local school for five years. She studied art from many teachers and received recognition for her paintings.
Mary Sue and Fred Cochran founded Cochran Chemical Co., Inc. in Wewoka in 1959 and she continued as an active participant as the Chairman of the Board until her death.
Mary Sue was a loving, devoted wife and mother, as well as a doting grandmother to her two beloved granddaughters and her five great grandchildren.
She is survived by:
A daughter and son- Mr. and Mrs. William E. Gau of Midland Texas, two granddaughters and grandsons-
Benning Gau Ratliff and Gregory M. Ratliff, and Jordan Gau Thompson and Eric A. Thompson, five great grandchildren, Phillip, Mills Morgan, Porter Ratliff and Davis and Gray Thompson, all of Nashville, TN. a brother, Frank B. Phillips, Jr., two nieces, Kimberly Phillips, and her daughter Hayley Hite, Bronwyn and Rick Rack, and their children Jill and Lad Rack all of Houston TX, as well as R. Tyler Rack Ramadi, Iraq, as well as her adopted family, Nancy and John LeVesque, their children Brooke and Norman, LeVesque all of Yucaipa, CA and John Norman Wewoka, OK.
Mary Sue had many special friends that she loved and adorded.
Honorary Pall Bearers: Duke Ligon, Bud Beeler, OKC, Vince Orza, Edmond, Fred Smith, John Norman, Ferril Williamson, Troy Childers, Wewoka, Bryan Bishop Enid, John O’Connor, Dallas TX, Kevin Blonkivist, Earl Levea, Midland Texas, John LeVesque, Yucaipa, CA.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 3rd & Okfuskee, Wewoka, OK 74884, Seminole Nation Museum, 524 S. Wewoka Ave, Wewoka, OK 74884