Margy L Cochran, age 93, of Gering, Nebraska, passed away on October 19, 2023 at Heritage Estates. Visitation for Margy will be on Thursday, October 26, 2023 from 5-7 pm at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel, and the funeral service will be on Friday, October 27, 2023 at 10 am at the Melbeta Methodist Church with Pastor Beverly Russell officiating. Following the ceremony, burial will be at East Lawn Cemetery in Minatare. Fond memories and messages of sympathy may be shared for the Cochran Family at www.dugankramer.com
Born at the family farm southeast of Henry, Nebraska, on July 3, 1930 to LaVern and Mable (Ashman) Nealy, Margy grew up in Henry, attending country school, Pleasant View thru 8th grade. She graduated from Torrington High School in Wyoming in 1947 at age 16 and moved to Melbeta in 1949. She worked at the Melbeta Café during the summer, and that was where she met the love of her life, Forrest Cochran Jr., affectionately known simply as “Junior.” Margy then got a job working at the new Butler Brothers store in Scottsbluff as a clerk at the candy counter until she and Junior were married on March 25, 1951 at the Methodist church in Gering.
The couple moved away during Junior’s time in the service, and then moved back to a farm near Melbeta in 1954, where Margy helped with gardening, driving beet truck, raising chickens, working in the fields, and raising her family.
When her kids were young, she was an active member of the Melbeta Methodist Church, 4-H leader, Cub-Scouts leader, and active in many of the school and community events.
The family moved to Gering in 2002, after her and Jr retired. Her hobbies included ceramics, working in her yard, oil painting, puzzles, and her favorite, playing cards with family and friends. She enjoyed decorating her house, especially for the holidays, collecting lighthouses, and bringing home a large rock from everywhere she traveled.
Her biggest love was her family, and all the family gatherings they shared. She enjoyed watching all her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids in their activities, whether it was sports, 4-H, school, or recitals. She was always there cheering them on. She most enjoyed sitting around the table playing a card game with them.
Survivors include sons, Bob (Tamara) of Illinois and Jack (Debra) of Banner County; daughter, Susan Gies of Gering; 8 grandchildren: Chet (Julie), Travis (Erika), Shane (Amanda), Joy (Perry), Casey Cochran, Josh (Raylene), Lacie and Brody Gies, and Bethany McCall; 12 great-grandchildren: Hallie and Conner (Chet), Jaden and Kylie (Casey), Jacey and Kippen (Shane) Cochran, Dyllan, Riggley, Ebbet and Crosley (Brody), and Rubie and Decker (Josh) Gies; Brother, Monte (Bev) Nealy; sisters-in law, Rowena Labertew, Joann Corr, and Donna Nealy; brothers-in-law, Dean Cochran, Clifford Hanson, and Herb Englehart; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Junior, her parents; 5 sisters: Evelyn Henderson, Harriet Waters, Charlotte Hanson, Rose Ish, and Karen Englehart; Brothers, Leonard and Boyd; Sisters-in-law, Judy Cochran, Lois Meier, and Jean Vogel; and brothers-in-law, Pete Vogel, Merle Labertew, Jack Corr, Ron Meier, Bob Henderson, and Bud Ish.