Cindy Jane Cochran (Espy)

MIDLAND - Lifelong educator and great woman Cindy Jane Cochran (Espy) died unexpectedly in Midland on Dec. 28, 2019, at the age of 68.

She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Robert Wesley Cochran; son, Robert Ryan Cochran and his wife Jennifer; and grandchildren, Mialynn Nicole Cochran and Keira Lauren Cochran. She is also survived by a large extended family including sister-in-law, Janice Napper Doss and husband Avery of Lamesa; brother-in-law, Thomas Cochran and wife Ann of Dickinson; special nieces and nephews, including Joel Napper and wife Jana and their daughters Jordan and her soon to be husband Marcus, Jessica and her husband Justin and daughter June, their sons Jackson and Jett of Lamesa and Idalou, niece Lisa Napper of Austin, and nephew James Napper of Stanton.

She was preceded in death by her mother Mary Francis Espy (Wood) of Tornillo, her father Joseph Espy of Henderson, Nevada and special aunts Lennis Wood and Margaret Vaughn (Wood) of Midland, along with numerous others.

She was born on Dec. 27, 1951, in El Paso, to Joseph and Mary Francis Espy (Wood). She attended primary and secondary schools in Tornillo, Texas where her mother Mary Francis taught the second grade and they lived simply in a one-room teacher’s cottage. She graduated from Tornillo High School in 1969 as the Valedictorian, Prom Queen, All-District Basketball guard with honors too numerous to list. Cindy went on to obtain an Associate of Arts (Magna Cum Laude) from Odessa College in 1971 and a Bachelor of Science (Magna Cum Laude) degree from Texas Tech University with a teaching certificate for the State of Texas in Biology and History in 1973.

She married Robert Wesley Cochran a Chemist and Microbiologist on Aug. 14, 1971. They were married for 48 years until her untimely death. After moving from Lubbock to Midland in 1973, she began working for Kent Oil Company as a receptionist. In 1974, she found work in her lifelong profession and love as an Educator at Greenwood ISD. Her work experience over 35 years included Permian Basin High School, Abell Junior High, Coleman High School and Midland Freshman High School before she took five years off to work with Mr. Randy Storie and the Mighty Lee High School Rebel Band where her son Ryan was Band Captain and her future daughter in law was a member.

While working with Mr. Storie, she served as financial Chairperson for the Rebel Band Booster Club in 1995. She then found the job of her dreams at Midland College, with the help of her longtime friend Ms. Linda Penny, as a Biology Laboratory Instructor. she served admirably at Midland College until her retirement.

She was a proud member of the Texas State Teachers Association and for 35 years generously supported her and her husband’s dedication to local, Regional, National and International Science Fairs.

She was a Christian and a Methodist member at St. Paul’s Methodist Church of Midland.

Funeral services were Jan. 3, at Ellis Funeral Home. Burial was held privately by the family.