Cecil Eugene Cochran, age 86, of Louisville, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday afternoon, January 18, 2024.

      Cecil was born on April 24, 1937, in Flora, the son of Charles William and Dolores Lillian (Bible) Cochran of Louisville.  He grew up on the family farm helping deliver Prairie Farms milk as a child.  He was raised in a Christian household and was one of the very first campers at Oil Belt.

      After graduating from North Clay High School, he attended Lincoln Bible Institute, where he proposed to fellow student, Wanda Lou Thomason.  They were married on June 4, 1958, and were blessed to celebrate 61 years of marriage before Lou’s passing.  To this union, three children were born.

      Cecil served as minister at Brown, Lovell’s Grove, Little Prairie, Lakeview, and North Harter Christian Churches.  Cecil and Lou started Lakeview church in House Springs, Missouri in the early 60’s.  During their time in the St. Louis area, Cecil received his master’s degree in education, and a minor in history and political science at Washington University, while teaching history and civics full time at a local high school and preaching and raising a family.  He personally witnessed the joining of the St. Louis Arch during that era.

      In 1968, Cecil and family returned to Clay County, where Cecil was the minister at North Harter, and principal, and 7^th and 8^th grade teacher in Iola.  When the small schools consolidated in 1971, he took the position of grade school principal of Clay City school district and remained there until the early nineties when he and Lou, who was teaching at Noble, retired and built a home in Louisville on the homestead of Cecil’s maternal grandfather and namesake, Cecil Bible.  He then engaged in farming full time, while still officiating many marriages and funerals.  He maintained a few cattle up until August of 2022 and performed his last marriage for his grandson on October 4, 2023.  His love for God, His Savior, family, and farming was lifelong.

      Not only was Cecil a preacher, farmer, and educator, he was a strong Democrat and community leader, serving the Clay County area on the Sheriff Merit Commission since the 70’s, up until his death.  He was a member of the North Clay School Board for 12 years, the Clay County Farm Service Agency for 9 years, served as elder and taught Sunday School in many area churches.  He was most recently a member of Christ Church in Flora.

      Cecil is survived by his oldest daughter Tammy Gentry, of Louisville, and her children, Tara Ratcliff, Nathan (Rachel) Ratcliff of Lexington, Kentucky, and Ronnie Gentry of Mt. Vernon.  He is also survived by his youngest daughter, Ronda Cochran of Effingham, and her daughter and grandsons, Alexandra, Paxton, and Kingston Brown, all of Virginia Beach, Virginia.  His sister, Sue (Jim) Courson of Kinmundy, sisters-in-law: Vickie (Gene) Porter and Gwen Thomason of Wayne City, two cousins, many nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces, friends, neighbors, and church family also mourn his passing.

      He was preceded in death by both of his parents in 1996, his beloved only son Chad, in 1999, and his wife Lou in 2020, who he proudly referred to as his “Harley Babe” in their latter years.  Cecil and Lou enjoyed many trips on their Harley Davidson trike including a very memorable trip to Kittery, Maine, which took them through the streets of Boston and New York City.  Their “wind therapy” was the turning point for them enjoying life again after the loss of their son.

      A Celebration of Cecil Cochran’s life and legacy will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2024, at Christ’s Church, 200 N. Olive Rd., Flora, Illinois 62839.  In lieu of flowers, remembrance donations are preferred to Clay County Hospice, and these will be accepted through Frank & Bright Funeral Home, 500 N. Main St., Flora, Illinois 62839.  A free will offering for the benefit of Clay County Hospice will also be taken during the time of service for those who wish to attend and contribute.  To share a condolence or memory, visit: www.frankandbright.com