Dennis went to be with Jesus Monday January 22, 2024 at home when his big heart quit.  He was 68 years old.

He was born Wednesday, March 9, 1955, at 1:00 AM, 7 minutes before his paternal twin, Dusty, at Burge Hospital (now Cox North) here in Springfield. His mother lost a baby 2 years before and she said she always thought that God gave back her baby by giving her twins the second time.

Dennis went to Hilldale Elementary and Willard High School and graduated in May 1973.

He had a great time being a lifeguard at Clear Creek.  He worked for Electropac for a while.  He bought his lime green Chevy van that year and his Dad said “Denny you can’t afford $105 monthly payment” to which Dennis replied, “Dad I’m making a $1 per hour.”

When he was 20 years old he went to work for Howard Johnson’s Motor Lodge as a Bellman.  He went into the management program, met his future wife, and finally made Assistant Manager of the Howard Johnson’s in Mill Valley, California, just north of San Francisco.

Dennis and Susan were married February 18, 1978 at the First Freewill Baptist Church of Springfield, MO, where both Dennis’s family and Susan’s family had gone to church at one time.  Brother Long was officiated.  He had been a friend to both sets of parents and had helped Susan’s parents build their home in Rogersville, MO.

For 2 years after the wedding they lived in San Rafael, California.  But Dennis didn’t think California was a good place to raise a family, so, with the help of a good friend, Terry Kimmel, he took a job with Evergreen Lawns in Kansas City, MO, where Dennis and Susan lived for the next 5 years.  While in KC, Sarah Elizabeth was born in 1982.

After Sarah was born, either they were visiting the Grandparents in Springfield, or the Grandparents were visiting in Kansas City, so in 1985 they moved back to Springfield and he started his own business, Cochran Lawn Care.

Cochran Lawn Care allowed him to meet many good friends, who were also clients.

After he started Cochran Lawn Care, he took some classes at OTC to help with his business.

Being self-employed was good for Dennis because he could set his own hours and that let him do what he loved, coaching T-Ball, basketball and whatever sport Sarah was playing at the time.

Daniel Wayne was born February 13, 1992.  Then for a while he was coaching Sarah and Daniel’s teams.

The Rogersville Park asked Dennis to coach Soccer.  He said “I don’t know anything about Soccer”.  They said “That’s okay, we’ll all learn together”.  Dennis bought a book and after 4 years, his team won their league and they were referred to as the “Mean Green Team”.

As a skinny youth, Dennis played every sport he could.  In the summer, he would play baseball at the end of the street until dark.  When he played football he sat the bench a lot because he weighed 116 lbs.  He later bulked up to 135 before graduating.  He continued to play Baseball in a city league with his friends from childhood, with his Dad, Wayne, as their coach until he moved to California for work.

Dennis started playing a round of golf now and then when he lived in Kansas City.  Then he got busy with coaching the kids ball teams.  But somewhere along the way he really caught the golfing bug, usually golfing once a week, weather permitting.  He golfed in several locals tournaments and would sometimes even win (B Flight).  He even golfed with his wife – best ball.

As you may have noticed by his attire, he was a Chiefs Fan.  GO CHIEFS!

Dennis was a member of Harmony Baptist Church and was baptized in the James River at Buena Vista by Pastor Larry Neil.

Dennis was proceeded in death by his parents Wayne and Ora Cochran, a baby brother, Robert Michael, and Susan’s Dad, Charles Knight.

Susan’s mom, Mary Knight, has lived with them for the last 3 years.  Dennis said, “She is the only parent we have left between us and we need to take care of her”.

Daughter, Sarah, married Billy Ballard and son, Daniel, married Melanie Miller.

He was Dadoo (courtesy of Dylan) to his 7 grandchildren, Sarah and Billy Ballard’s children-Dylan Michael Wayne, Kailey, Lilly, Elizabeth, Preston, Lucas, and Daniel and Melanie’s son, Bronson Wayne.  He has 1 great grandson, Dylan and Kayla’s son, Jackson Adonis William Wayne (all that for 1 little 1 year old boy).  There are a lot of Wayne’s in the family.

Bronson (2 years old) is very special and we have enjoyed him.  He always reaches up and says “I take you” or “Come here”.  Who can resist that?

He was so proud of his daughter, Sarah Ballard and her husband Billy for becoming the guardians of Lilly, Elizabeth, Preston and Lucas.

He was also proud of his son Daniel, who bought Grandma Mary’s home and had recently gone to work for Mercy as a medical assistant.

His twin brother Dusty, retired, and wife Jennifer, a CPA and partner of the Whitlock CPAs, live in Willard.  Dennis and Dusty talked on the phone almost every day.

Their younger brother by 10 years, Dale Cochran, came to work with Dennis this past year.  We will always be grateful to Dale for his help.  He was a god-send.

Dennis was fighting colon cancer this past year.  If you didn’t know that, don’t feel bad.  Dennis didn’t share that with very many people.  He had just gotten a clean bill of health, 2 weeks ago.  No cancer.  Go figure.

He had many nieces and nephews. Dale’s children:  Kelsey Cochran, Hollis Cochran, and Caleb Davis.  Tim and Jeannie Ewing’s children:  Tabatha Metz, Jason Ewing and Thomas Ewing.  Chuck’s children with Patricia:  Michael Knight, Darren Knight and Samuel Knight, Chuck’s step children with Rhonda, Justin and Dylan Head and Chuck’s step children with Vicky:  Sara Mitoff, Scotty Washam (deceased), and Sonja Bradley.

They all have children that Dennis loved but we might run out of space if we listed them all.  I do have to mention, Sonja’s daughter, Aurora, 4, who held a special place in his heart.  Every time she saw Dennis, she would yell his name and run into his arms or hug him around his legs.

Dennis had a big heart, was generous and kind, with a unique sense of humor.  He was a great husband that even when he didn’t feel good would whistle, hold his wife’s hand, tell dumb Dad jokes and smile. We will miss his smile.  Kailey used to trade Dad jokes with her Dadoo.  Fun!

He loved his cats.  Wookie and Willow, the inside cats and 8-12 feral cats that he fed twice a day and only he and Melanie (the cat man and cat lady) could pet.

He loved the beach.  When he talked about vacation, he talked about the beach.  He wanted to rent a house at the beach for a winter season when he retired.  A couple of years ago, Dennis, Susan and friend Carin Strain spent a week in Cincinnati, to go to the zoo and the Arc.  He kept asking where the beach was.

He loved and was loved, and can’t be replaced.  We know he is playing golf in heaven.

His visitation will be Sunday, 1/28/2024 from 2 – 4 pm.  The Chiefs game will be on and feel free to wear your Chiefs gear.

He will be buried at White Chapel cemetery, near his Mom and Dad.