Kearney, Margaret Dowell Cochran

March 24, 1919 - October 3, 2012

Margaret Dowell Cochran Kearney, 93, of Vero Beach, Florida passed away peacefully at Indian River Estates. Survivors include her sister, Josephine Hinson of Springfield, VA, and four sons, John Jeffress Cochran (Carolyn Young) of Venice, FL, Stephen Laurie Cochran of Chattanooga, TN, David Dowell Cochran (Cindy) of Mechanicsville, VA and Douglas Brooks Cochran (Anne) of Vero Beach, FL. Eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren also survive her. "Maggie" was born in Washington, DC. and raised in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY and Washington, DC . She graduated from Western High School in Washington and attended Sweet Briar College where she graduated in 1940 and spent her junior year abroad at the University of Paris, Sorbonne. She met her first husband John Pettus Cochran while they were in High School, and they were married in April 1942. World War II intervened and John served in the US Navy in the Pacific Theatre. During the war, she studied at the New York School of Interior Decoration and Design. After the war, they lived in Detroit, MI, Cleveland OH and Pittsburgh, PA before settling in McLean, VA in 1963. John's wartime service caused medical complications from which he eventually died in 1965. Maggie married Maynard S. Kearney, an old family friend in 1977. Sadly, he succumbed to cancer shortly thereafter. Through her marriage to Maynard Kearney, she gained stepsons, Michael and Phillip and stepdaughter, Marianne. Family and home were her primary interests, however she was an avid bridge player, taught French in elementary school, worked as a bookkeeper for her father's business, and traveled extensively. She was a longtime member of Civitan of Tyson's Corner, VA, the Woman's Club of McLean, VA, McLean Postcomers, and Post Cana of Northern Virginia. She was a member of the Little Falls Presbyterian Church, Arlington, VA for over 45 years. When her health diminished she moved from McLean, VA to Indian River Estates in Vero Beach in 2006. She loved deeply and will be missed by many. There will be a memorial service at The Community Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd Street at 3 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012, followed by a reception at the church. Private interment in Arlington National Cemetery will occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Civitan International, P.O. Box 130744, Birmingham, AL 35213-0744, www.civitan.com, or The USO: United Service Organizations, P.O. Box 96322,
Washington, DC 20090-6322, www.uso.org or a favorite charity in her name.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences may be sent at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.