The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Kay Marian Hollar Cochran was born May 11th, 1946, to Hulda Margaret Irving and George Marion Hollar. The lifelong Cathlamet resident died March 12, 2019 at her home in Cathlamet, surrounded by the loves of her life.

She graduated from Wahkiakum High School in 1964 and considered her classmates as her special forever friends.

She married Wayne Cochran in May of 1965 and became a Navy wife for the next four years. Their Navy years held some of their fondest memories.

Kay’s only child, Stephanie Kay, was born in May of 1969 and she considered this a true miracle. She was thrilled to add another daughter in 1981 in the form of an Australian exchange student, Kathy Connolly.

Kay was appointed as Wahkiakum County Assessor September 1, 1989 and retired from that position December 21, 2002. She was elected to three full terms.

She opened Lower Columbia Realty with her daughter in June of 2003. Her love of people made this profession her passion.

Kay loved her community and its people and served it in capacities too many to list. Outside of the community she served as a trustee for Lower Columbia College and sat on the board of directors for the Lower Columbia Association of Realtors. Her faith and family were the most important things in her life. She loved spending time at the family home in Lo de Marcos, Mexico.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Wayne, daughter and son-in-law Stephanie and Kevin Prestegard, daughter and son-in-law Kathy and Sean Connolly, a sister Willadeen Morris, brothers-in-law Hans Fluckiger, Wally Cochran and Steve Weston and the absolute lights of her life, her grandchildren Ashlenn Coleman, Brysen Coleman, Kyli Prestegard, Riley Prestegard, Claire Prestegard, Elyse Connolly, Meg Connolly, Matt Connolly, Cory Kelly and Rachel Comstock.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Georgia Fluckiger and sister-in-law Mildred Cochran.

Her funeral was held March 17 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church on Puget Island, WA. Interment was at Greenwood Cemetery, Cathlamet, WA.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pioneer Community Association or Our Saviour’s Lutheran on Puget Island

- Paid Obituary -