Karen Ann Cochran

Born in Oklahoma City on April 25, 1955, she graduated from Cassidy School in 1973, wanting to pursue a life-long dream of becoming a veterinarian, but was led down a different path. Having graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in computer science in 1977, she taught mathematics for a number of years in various levels of education. After being “tired of starving to death,” she found employment with Fleming Foods as an SQL manager, touching the lives of many of her co-workers with her effervescence and optimistic outlook on life. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2000, Fleming closed its doors and in June, she found work at the Department of Human Services’ Finance Division, where she would spend the rest of her days working. She still continued to pursue her veterinary degree, but was taken away from the world before she could finish, succumbing to a second diagnosis of cancer after ten years of being cancer-free, remaining in Oklahoma City for the rest of her life.

She was married only once to Carl Wendell Tolle, Jr. in 1984 for eight years, but still remaining faithful to him, despite their lack of marriage, for 26 years. She is survived by Wendell and her sons, Alex and Drew. Funeral services are to be held at Memorial Park’s Historical Chapel on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 10:00 AM with committal to follow.