Gordon Cochran

COCHRAN , Gordon Gaun 1921 - 2009 Gordon Gaun Cochran, born in Lousanna, AB on January 14, 1921, passed away at the Foothills Hospital, Calgary, AB on Tuesday, September 22, 2009. Gordon grew up in Hanna, AB where his dad Percy Cochran taught him through many grades. Gordon joined up for WWII at age eighteen and returned home at twenty-three. He served with the 7th Anti-Tank Division as a front line wireless operator in the Canadian Army Signals. He served in Sicily, Italy, Belgium, France, and Germany and was with the Canadians who liberated Holland. While in the UK Gordon married Doris Joan (Bobbie) Baigent and upon retuning to Canada they had three sons, James Robert (Maxine), William Gordon, Michael John Cochran and one daughter Kelly (Dean) Meikle. Gordon is also survived by his grandsons James Jesse, Michael Gordon Cochran; Dale Kenneth Kilpatrick (Melanie) and granddaughter Elizabeth Liberty-Cochran; his great-grandson Dallas Kilpatrick; his two brothers Robert and Donald (Louise) Cochran and stepbrother Kirk Taylor (Millie) and stepsister Anne Marie Walker. Gordon was predeceased by his brothers William and Jim Cochran. Gordon is also survived by his wife Mairi Matheson-Cochran and her children Heather Kennedy (Jim); Fraser Gamble (Mardelle/Kaiya) and Ian Gamble (Lisa). Gordon has the distinction of being the only Imperial Oil employee to have been present on their three big discoveries; Leduc No. 1, Redwater No. 1 and Woodbend No. 1. Gordon then had a career working with AMOCO Canada and AMOCO International. He was the Fire, Accident Prevention and Safety engineer in four western provinces, Newfoundland, Egypt, Iran, U.S.A. and Trinidad. He fought five wild wells with the famed firefighter Red Adair. Gordon was a member of the Masonic Lodge, an instructor on St. Johns Ambulance, a life member of the Royal Canadian Legion and is credited as a significant fundraiser for building the St. Andrew's church for the community of Kingsland. Gordon is credited also for teaching many children to swim, coaching Little League and being a champion golfer, tennis player, snooker player, poker player and masters at bridge. Gordon was noted for his insightful "one-liners" and his unique sense of humour. Gordon enjoyed his years at the Manor Village at Garrison Woods and cherished his many friends there. The family wishes to profoundly thank the staff at the Colonel Belcher Care Centre and Unit No. 36 at the Foothills Hospital for all their friendship, care and heartfelt assistance. Donations in Gordon's name (if one desires) may be given to the VETS' ANGELS, Colonel Belcher Care Centre, 1939 Veterans Way N.W., Calgary, Alberta.