William E. "Bill" Cochran

William E. “Bill” Cochran, of Ormond Beach, FL, formerly of Casey and Lincoln counties in KY, passed away on Monday, December 15, 2025. 

Born October 16, 1936, at home on Brush Creek in Casey County, KY, he was the son of the late Lewis J. and Lillian Jeffries Cochran. After graduation from Liberty High School in 1954, he entered the US Navy, serving overseas. Bill was a professional surveyor for 45 years, mostly for large construction projects. He married Beverly Ates in 1960 and they had one son, Eric. He returned to Casey County with his family from 1973 to 1984, where he was a land surveyor and a Little League baseball coach. After retirement, Bill and Beverly came back to KY in 1999, living in Lincoln County for 25 years. He attended Calvary Baptist Church in Danville, KY. This year, he and Beverly moved near Eric in FL.   

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Beverly Ates Cochran; his son, Eric R. Cochran; two grandsons, Brendan L. Cochran (and Mary) and Evan A. Cochran; and his sister, Jewell Allen (and Quentin, Sr.). Bill was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Janice Wetzel (and George).

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at McKinney-Brown Funeral Home with Bro. Doug Wesley officiating. Burial will follow in the Poplar Grove Cemetery with military funeral rites by the Casey County Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday, December 29, 2025, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in memory of William Cochran, to the American Brain Foundation at www.americanbrainfoundation.org, to support research into cures and treatment of brain diseases such as dementia.

Arrangements for William E. Cochran have been entrusted to McKinney-Brown Funeral Home. An online guestbook is available at www.mckinneybrown.com.