Gordon Elwood Cochran

Gordon Elwood Cochran, 81, of La Grande died peacefully May 7 at Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center following a brief illness.

His ashes along with those of his wife, Virginia, will be scattered together at a high meadow near Hat Point overlooking the Snake River. He has requested no funeral service.

Gordon was born Dec. 3, 1928, to M.A. "Mike" Cochran and Edna Schreiber in Bend. He graduated from Bend High School in 1946. Gordon and his family later moved to La Grande and lived on Oak Street.

His family's known heritage extends to the 1100s in Scotland. His mother's family came to McMinnville in 1872 by covered wagon.

After earning his geology degree at OSU in 1951, Gordon worked for an Idaho gunsmith.

Gordon was a retired geologist for the Oregon Department of Transportation Region 5 headquarters office in La Grande. He participated in groundwater, rock-fall mitigation, soil and roadbed studies, erosion control and roadway core sample analysis. On the job, he dressed like Indiana Jones and wore high-top laced boots and a safari hat, alternating with a hard-hat.

Several years ago, he closed Oregon Highway 86 at the onset of geologic instability, which became the historic "Hole-In-The Wall Slide" site, along the Powder River between Richland and Baker City.

Those who knew Gordon say he was respected at ODOT for his dedicated work ethic, professionalism, productivity, humor and cheerful ways.

Gordon loved the outdoors, and became an avid hunter, fisherman and sportsman.

Although he wore thick spectacles, Gordon was a pistol and rifle shooting competitor, and won extensive trophies and awards. Gordon was

awarded a .45-caliber automatic pistol as a prize during a national competition at Camp Perry, Ohio.

He was a member of the Elks Lodge, National Rifle Association and various wildlife groups.

He helped establish the rifle range near the Grande Ronde River, between Hilgard and Starkey, and Gordon volunteered countless hours teaching marksmanship and range safety.

Those who knew Gordon say he was very frugal, lived modestly and advocated honesty, compassion, responsibility, support of the U.S. constitution and conservation.

His wife, Virginia, hosted many Bible study groups, which he politely welcomed.

Gordon's beloved wife, Virginia Marie (Dalton) Cochran, died in 1995.

Having early warning of her advancing illness, the couple set up a significant memorial fund to endow nursing scholarships for students at Eastern Oregon University. In passing, Gordon adds to that gift a substantial life insurance credit to further support the

Virginia M. Cochran Memorial Nursing Student Scholarship Fund.

Gordon and Virginia had always wanted children, but it was not to be.

Gordon is survived by his cousins, Paula Dransfield of Santa Fe, N.M., Emily Jernstedt of Carlton, Ellenor Ledgerwood of Portland, Glen Murray of Oro Valley, Ariz., Alice Nelson of Tigard, Bill Oldham of McMinnville, Ann Redmond of McMinnville, Sarah Schreiber of Corvallis, John Bergsrom of Falls Church, Va., and Carol Whitfield of Redding, Calif.

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