Lenora Mae (Brayton) Cochran

Obituary of Lenora Mae Cochran

Lenora Mae Cochran, 95, of Shallotte, N.C., formerly a resident of Harrisville, NY, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 13, 2023, at Autumn Care of Shallotte Nursing Home, and under the loving care of Hospice.

Born January 15, 1928, in Harrisville, NY, she was the daughter of Earnest Carlton and Mary Elsie (Steacy) Brayton. Many that knew and loved her affectionately referred to her as “Dolly.”

Due to her mother’s passing when Lenora was just 12 years of age, she began working to help support her siblings. While working, she continued her education and attended schools in Harrisville, Watertown, and Carthage, graduating from Harrisville Central School in 1947.

Throughout her high school years, she worked for Leroy and Leota Amo, in Watertown, at Keddy’s Bakery, in Carthage, for Louie and Bill Bowen and Everett and Margret Valentine, in Harrisville and for Guy and Korleen Farr at Farr’s Gas Station in Natural Bridge. In her later years, she worked for Hallmark Nursing Home in Carthage until her retirement.

She married Neil Edward Farr on November 22, 1946. The marriage ended in divorce. She married Merton Henry Cochran on August 26, 1962. They embraced their union until his passing in October 1997 at the age of 77.

While living in Natural Bridge, Lenora attended the United Methodist Church and taught Sunday school. She was a member of the Home Bureau and the Ladies’ Auxiliary. She volunteered with the Brownies/Girl Scouts.

Lenora later moved to Harrisville and became a member of the Harrisville United Methodist Church, where she also taught Sunday School. She was a member of the United Methodist Women’s Group. She volunteered for many fundraisers for the church and held office. She resided in Harrisville until August 2014, when she moved to Shallotte, North Carolina with her daughter, Shirla and Shirla’s husband, Jake.

For over 50 years, Lenora was a member of the Adirondack Grange #530. As a member, she held many offices. She was also a member of the Subordinate Grange, the Lewis County Pomona Grange and the State Grange. She was a member of the Harrisville Senior Citizens Club and volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America.

Lenora was an avid bowler for over 37 years and was in the Harrisville Women’s league and a Co-Ed Bowling league. She served as Secretary for the Bowling Association.

She enjoyed camping at Happy Hollow Campground with her daughter, Shirla and son-in-law, Jake, reading, crossword puzzles, bingo, genealogy, and spending time with her family. She overcame her fear of flying at the age of eighty so that she could watch the birth of her first great-grandchild.

Lenora is survived by her family, who all adored her, including: her six loving children: two daughters, Trudy D. Clay, Shallotte, N.C., Shirla Schunke and her husband, Jake, Shallotte, N.C., four sons and their wives: Mark N. Farr and his wife, Karen, Cape Coral, Fl, Alan W. Farr and his wife, Paula, Collinsville, Al, Edward E. Cochran and his wife, Janice, Lowville, NY and Michael Cochran and his wife, Susan, Watertown, NY.  She is also survived by twenty-five grandchildren, 46 great- grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren. Her fifteenth great-great grandchild is due in December. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Merton, and her parents, Earnest and Mary Brayton, Lenora is predeceased by two sisters, Betty Brayton and Lenora’s twin, Hanora Brayton, her sister, Leatrice Osborne and her husband, Arthur, her sister, Shirley and her husband, Stanley, a brother, Earnest Brayton, Jr. and his wife, Bernice, and her son-in-law, Bruce Clay.

Donations in her honor can be made to the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Life Care Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, N.C. 28401-7335.

Memorial services will be conducted at 12:30 Pm, on Sunday, June 4, 2023 in the Village Point United Methodist Church, Shallotte, NC. 

There will be another service in Harrisville, NY on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

Online condolences are encouraged and may be sent to the family at www.fulwoodfuneralservice.com

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