Mary Cochran
TEMPE – Mary Leffler Cochran passed away peacefully on October 24, 2021 in Tempe. She was 100 years old and was much beloved by her three children, four grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Although she was a Midwestern girl at heart, she was a proud, longtime resident of Arizona (59 years). She gave lovingly and tirelessly of her time and energy to her family as well as numerous organizations of which she was a member.
Mary was born in Kansas City, Mo., in 1921 to Shepherd Leffler and Elizabeth McCaull Leffler. She graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she met the love of her life, John A. Cochran, who also graduated from Drake. They married in 1943 during World War II, with John being deployed by the U.S. Army to the European Theater while Mary taught school in rural Iowa and worked for Pratt & Whitney in Kansas City.
After John returned from the war in 1946, they moved to Boston, where the two of them attended Harvard, John earning a Ph.D and Mary earning a Master’s. The educational teaching trail led John to the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University and Arizona State University. While John had found his calling as an economics professor, Mary found hers as a ready, willing and able volunteer in countless organizations. From faculty wives clubs to Girl Scouts, from the Desert Botanical Garden to PEO and Delta Gamma sorority, she jumped in enthusiastically. But her principal volunteer energies went toward garden clubs.
From the early-70s on, she was a devoted member and leader of both Tempe Garden Club and Desert Designers (she was a co-founder of the club). She also served as president of the Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs and as a national officer of the National Federation of Garden Clubs.
Mary was a gifted writer and historian and used those talents extensively for the garden clubs. She authored “Fulfilling the Dream,” the 75-year history of the National Garden Clubs, as well as being the author of the 70-year history of the Arizona Garden Clubs and the 75-year history of the Tempe Garden Club.
Her love of writing extended to food as well, having authored two editions of the family cookbook, chock full of creations from her kitchen and others. The recipes became the heart of many a meal for family and friends.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, John, and her eldest daughter, Jacqueline. She is survived by daughters Cynthia Johnston (Bruce) and Cathy Berg (Jack), as well as by four grandchildren – Lauren Lowe (Andy) and Stephen Johnston; Jason Berg (Hope) and Michael Berg – and six great grandchildren.
Mary will be buried beside her husband and her parents in Kansas City, Mo. Per Mary’s request, there will only be a small family service in Kansas City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Mary Leffler Cochran Scholarship at Mesa Community College. (Please make checks payable to MCCF and in the note section add “for the MCC Mary Leffler Cochran Scholarship Endowment.”
For online donations visit: mesacc.edu/give-online. In the designation section, indicate the gift is for the MCC Mary Leffler Cochran Scholarship Endowment).