Joe Ray Cochran

Joseph "Joe" Ray Cochran, 77, of Poplar Bluff, MO passed away unexpectedly on March 22, 2026, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Joe was born on March 18, 1949, to Joseph and Eleanor (Brooks) Cochran in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He married Debbie Clark on December 24, 1967, in Poplar Bluff, and they enjoyed 58 years of marriage.

Joe was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed gardening, grafting trees and planting them, playing the guitar and his daily Bible Studies. He would study his worn out Bible 2-3 times a day, with Vernon McGee in the mornings and Les Feldrick. He and Debbie were saved and baptized at a revival service that Debbie's dad, Rev. Richard Clark, was holding. They were members of Lone Hill Church. He had a lifetime of carpentry experience. To which he and his son had their own business; Cochran's Construction.

Joe proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1969-1972.

Joe is survived by his wife, Debbie; son, Jody Cochran; daughter, Stephanie Hill and husband Nathan; grandchildren, Shelby Cochran, Tristin Hill (Annalise), Allison McLean and husband Matthew, Sarena Hill (Caden), Carson Cochran, Cooper Hill, and he was excited about the birth of his great granddaughter, Emersyn Rae McLean; brothers, Melvin and James Cochran.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; Joseph and Eleanor, granddaughter; Morgan Cochran, mother-in-law; Esther Mae Clark and father-in-law; Rev. Richard Clark.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 10-11 am at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home 701 Vine St. Poplar Bluff.

Funeral services will begin at 11 am in the chapel with Rev. Roger Mayo officiating. Burial will take place at Sparkman Cemetery.

A memorial has been set up at Southern Bank for a scholarship program for the building trades program at the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center.