Ron Otis Cochrell of Poulsbo passed away peacefully after a long illness on April 5th, 2017 in Arizona surrounded by his family after 70 years of a life well lived.
Ron was born on December 2nd, 1946 in Lewiston, Idaho to Otis John and Lee Pritchard Cochrell. He spent his formative years growing up in Bellevue, Washington where he formed life long friendships and his passion for cars. His family’s love for Idaho remained and he spent all of his childhood vacations and holidays there with his favorite cousins making memories of a lifetime.
After graduating from Bellevue High School in 1965 he worked in various jobs, but the drive for pursuing a college degree pulled him to Ellensburg where he went on to receive two degrees from Central Washington University, one in Business Administration in 1970 and the other in Education in 1973. He later earned his Masters degree in Education from Eastern Washington University in 1992.
In 1973 he met the love of his life, Patty McPhee, and in August of 1978 they married and settled into their first home in Bremerton and a few years later then moved to Poulsbo. They welcomed their only child, Tricia Lee Cochrell, in July of 1987. She was his pride and joy and he enjoyed raising her to love cars as much as he did.
Education was Ron’s passion and he found his niche in teaching Marketing/DECA at Central Kitsap and Olympic High School where he could blend his love of business into teachable moments for his students. His kids, as he referred to them, ran the student store and learned how to run a business and all that it entails. He greatly treasured his 32 years of teaching and mentoring his students. Teaching the importance of businesses giving back to their community was an ideal that Ron deeply believed in. So much so that he’d annually had his students raise funds for Children’s Hospital, conduct blood drives, and they started the Out Reach Dinner in Bremerton that has continued for the past 28 years in which a Thanksgiving dinner and clothing was provided to people in need during the holidays. Since he retired in 2006 he loved to reconnect with his student’s after they’d graduated to hear their stories and continued to encourage them to strive to attain their dreams.
Ron was recognized as “Citizen of the Year” in 2001 by the East Bremerton Rotary and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship. He was also named “Educator of the Year” by the DECA association in 1999, and in 2004 was given the 1st award for Community Service from Washington Career and Technical Education association.
Ron was a “car guy” and collected many cars in his lifetime. A favorite memory of his was being able to go to Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance driving his classic car in the Pebble Beach Motoring Classic from Kirkland to Pebble Beach, California.
He was a runner and snow skier in his younger years and a ferocious reader. He loved to travel and enjoyed the past 6 years spending the winter months as a “snow bird” in Arizona where he loved walking the desert.
Ron is survived by his wife of 39 years Patty, his daughter Tricia, many beloved cousins, brothers and sisters in law, nieces and nephews, and dear friends that he loved and cherished.
A celebration of his life will be held at Kiana Lodge at 14976 NE Sandy Hook Rd, Poulsbo, WA on May 6th at 1015am. Memorial donations may be made to Ron’s favorite Charity- Children’s Hospital in Seattle, WA.
