Twila Cochran

Twila Rae Cochran was born April 7, 1931 in Lapoint, Utah, the first of seven children, to Vera Christina Lee and Raymond Miles Bigelow. She grew up enjoying swimming in the canal, riding Old Nig, and riding her new bicycle. The dreaded experience of her youth was herding the turkeys and keeping them out of the greasewood which was a real challenge. Mom attended grades one through eight in the Lapoint Elementary School. Afterwards she attended Alterra High School, graduating in 1949. Mom began working at the telephone company in Roosevelt and later transferred to Vernal. Mom married John Bernard Cochran on Sept 11, 1953. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple on May 5th, 1961. Mom raised three sons, Terry, Greg, and Paul and was always busy doing all the things a devoted mother had to do working full time and being a wife and mother was a full day's work every day. During the first eight years of her married life, the family moved from town to town, apartment to apartment, mobile home to mobile home and country to country. They lived in many towns, several states, and twice oversees in Kuwait and Basra, Iraq. Visiting the old city of Babylon and the old city of Ur were the two highlights of mom's stay overseas. It didn't take mom long to realize she wanted to settle down and she and dad bought ground in Maeser and later in Vernal where they built their homes. Later in life mom went several winters with dad to live in the warmer climate of southern Arizona. She enjoyed the flea markets, sightseeing, and visiting with family and friends. Mom's health was good until the last couple of years and she struggled not being able to work and do all she wanted. Through it all she remained optimistic looking forward to another spring and summer and planting another garden. Mom passed away April 30, 2014 at Ashley Regional Medical Center, with family at her side. She was preceded in death by her husband, four siblings, one granddaughter, and one grandson. Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the Vernal 9th LDS Ward Chapel. Friends and family may call on Friday@ Blackburn Vernal Mortuary from 6-8 p.m. and on at the Chapel on Saturday one hour prior to the services. Burial will be in the Vernal Memorial Park, services are entrusted to the care of Blackburn Verna Mortuary.