Mark Alan Cochran, 57, of Caldwell passed away Thursday, July 14, 2022, in Caldwell.
A Celebration of Mark’s Life was held July 18, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Elizabeth Lutheran Church with Pastor Richard Brunk officiating.
Burial with Masonic Services immediately followed at the Caldwell Masonic Cemetery, Honors by the Warren Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. 56. The family received visitors from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on July 17, 2022, at Strickland Funeral Home Caldwell.
Mark Alan Cochran was born July 26,1964, in Houston, Texas, to Mack Cochran and Lucille Kuehn.
He attended Westbury High School in Missouri City, Texas, graduating in 1982. He attended Sam Houston State University where he was an active member of the Kappa Alpha Order Gamma Tau Chapter.
He married Jodi Lockhart in Houston, Texas, on April 17, 1993, and in December of 1996, they gave birth to twins, Tarah and Travis.
Mark transferred to the University of Houston where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology 1998.
He taught and coached at Strake Jesuit Preparatory School, Annunciation Orthodox School and Kempner High School in Houston.
He moved his family to Taylor, Texas, in 2005 to take the head baseball coaching position in the nearby town of Jarrell.
He came to Caldwell Middle School a year later to teach Texas history and to coach, planting roots in Caldwell, Texas. He spent the next 16 years teaching and bringing Texas history to life for his students.
He was often seen dressing the part of William B. Travis, Sam Houston, confederate and union soldiers -- while storytelling and reading the story of the Texas Revolution and the Civil War.
In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting and spending time on his family’s land in Junction, Texas.
He was a life-long member of the Lutheran faith, baptized, confirmed and married in the faith.
He was an active alum of the Kappa Alpha Order at Sam Houston, often donating his time to serve in his fraternal order. He was eventually nominated and received the distinction of being elected to their Court of Honor.
He was also initiated into the Masonic Order in 2016 eventually serving in the highest seat as the Worshipful Master of the Mason’s Warren Lodge No. 56 in Caldwell, Texas. He served that position until the day of his death.
He recently walked his daughter down the aisle and gave her away to her new husband and was proud to dance their first dance with a new knee.
He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Jodi Lockhart Cochran; son, Travis Scott Cochran; daughter, Tarah Jo Cochran Scarmardo; son-in-law, Austin Randal Scarmardo; mother, Lucille Kuehn Cochran; sister, Lori Delvige; brother-in-law, Brian Delvige; nieces, Lauren Y’Barbo and Lacey Y’Barbo; and nephew, Logan Y’Barbo.
He was preceded in death by his father, Mack Cochran; maternal grandparents, Alfred and Viola Kuehn; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cochran; and brother-in-law, Charles Scott Lockhart.
Pallbearers were Ronny Snow, Kevin Lockley, Greg Romeo, Bobby McAndrews, Stephen Tate and Austin Scarmardo.
Honorary pallbearers were Kappa Alphas Order Gamma Tau Chapter and Masonic Warren Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. 56 members.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Caldwell ISD, Attn. Mark Cochran Memorial Fund, 203 N. Gray Street, Caldwell, Texas 77836.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home. They invite you to visit their website at www.stricklandfuneralhomes.com and sign the online register book.