Ida "Josie" Josephine Cochran

Ida Josephine “Josie” Cochran, a descendent of pioneer Tempe families, the granddaughter of Frederick Augustus Van Riter and Ida Messersmith Van Riter, and one of six children born to Walter S. Cochran and Eleanor Van Riter Cochran, passed away on Jan. 12, 2011 at home on land that has been owned by her family since 1904, originally 40 acres at Rural and Broadway Rd. She was 88 years young and always had a positive outlook with a zest for life.

She was employed part-time as a housekeeper/janitor for 14 years at the Tempe Center for the Handicapped Preschool. She also worked as a babysitter and housekeeper throughout the years for many Tempe families.

She was a lifetime member and active participant of the ARC of Tempe. The ARC’s recreation center on Broadway was originally the Cochran family home, built by her father, Walter Cochran. Through the ARC she got involved with Special Olympics and was one of the oldest participants when in 1998 she received the “Most Inspirational Athlete” award.

She attended Tempe First United Methodist Church all of her life and was a long-time member of their Christian Service group, United Methodist Women (Unity Circle).

She is survived by her brother Fred Cochran and wife Helen of Peoria, AZ; sister Marjorie C. Thoman of Bakersfield, CA; nieces Deanna Garvin, Pamela Ellzey, Sally Thoman, and Patti Jennett of CA, Donetta Cochran Klages of TX.

Visitation is Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Carr-Tenney Mortuary. Services are at 1:00 PM Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 at Tempe First United Methodist Church followed by interment at Tempe Double Buttes Cemetery. Donations can be made in her honor to ARC of Tempe or Tempe First United Methodist Church.

Arrangements under the direction of Carr-Tenney Mortuary, Tempe, AZ.