Obituary Richland Parish Louisiana of Mrs. Sheila Devereux Cochran
as printed in the News Star.May 28, 2003
Submitted by Dot Golliher



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SHEILA DEVEREUX COCHRAN
 
Sheila Devereux Cochran died on May 27, 2003 at her home in Rayville, Louisiana. 
She was born March 13, 1949 in Monroe, La. to Marie Peterson Devereux and 
Michael R. Devereux, Sr. After graduating from Neville High School, she received 
a BA and Master's in Elementary Education from the University of Louisiana at 
Monroe, La. She married her high school sweetheart, James Cooper Cochran on 
November 27, 1971. After Cooper completed his active duty with the U. S. Army, 
they settled in Rayville in 1972 and Sheila began her teaching career. She taught 
in Richland Parish Schools in Rayville and Mangham from 1972 through 1999. She 
taught in Caddo Parish from 1999 through 2003 school year. She shared her talents 
by teaching subjects from math to French. Sheila touched the lives of many children 
throughout north Louisiana through her love of teaching and love of children.
Since both boys were competitive swimmers through high school and college, Sheila 
spent many hours at swim meets. Sheila is known throughout the state for her loyal 
assistance with swim meets, always volunteering for whatever needed to be done, 
cheering for local swimmers, helping with arrangements, timing and feeding the team 
by opening her home to swimmers from Delta State University, University of Missouri 
at Rolla, and the Indian Aquatic Team.
After attending Our Lady of Fatima School as a child, Sheila remained loyal to her 
church. She was active in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rayville for many years.
Sheila is survived by her husband, Cooper; two sons, James Cooper Cochran, Jr. and 
John Charles Cochran; two brothers, Michael Robert Devereux and Daniel Randolph Devereux. 
She is also survived by her aunts: Margaret Gilmore of West Columbia, SC, Mabel Devereux 
of Monroe, LA, Mary Louise Devereux of Monroe, LA, Kathleen Greene of Albuquerque, NM, 
Helen Stoermer of Lone Star, TX, Coy Williams of Shreveport, LA, Cele Cordray of 
Shreveport, LA, Margie Cottier of Phoenix, AZ, Audie Lea Peterson of Columbia, LA, 
and Doris Peterson of Baton Rouge, LA.
A requiem mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Thursday, May 29, 2003 at the Sacred 
Heart Catholic Church in Rayville, LA. with Rev. Joseph Puthapally officiating. 
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the Atkins Family Cemetery 
in Athens, LA under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home in Rayville, LA.
A rosary service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with Rev. Thomas Flynn officiating 
at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with family visitation following the service.
Pallbearers will be Bob Adams, Sherman Ashley, Joe Bruyninckx, Joe Chapman, Donald Letlow, 
Mike Cooper, Leo Rubin, and Joe Zarro.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society of Sacred Heart 
Catholic Church in Rayville, LA or St. Frederick High School Scholarship Fund, Monroe, LA.