Lance Cochran

Lance Everett Cochran was born in Enid, OK on May 15, 1974, to James Everett (J.E.) and Deborah Joah (Havens) Cochran and passed from this life in Blackwell, OK, on March 2, 2026. He was raised on the family farm in Northeast Grant County, OK, and attended school at Deer Creek-Lamont through his freshman year of high school.  After the family’s move to Caldwell, KS, in 1989 he completed his last few years of high school in Caldwell, graduating in May of 1992.

Following his high school graduation, Lance attended Western College of Auctioneering in Billings, MT, before starting college at NWOSU in Alva, OK that fall. Lance spent 2 years at NWOSU, during which time he started working on sale days for Bobby Smith at Fairview Livestock Auction. Bobby became a true friend and mentor, and Lance’s experience in Fairview was the beginning of his lifelong career in the livestock marketing industry. He met Tracy Frieouf in the fall of 1994 at an auction, and the two were married on November 20, 1999. They made their home in Medford, OK, for 14 years before moving in late 2013 back to the farm where he was raised. Three wonderful children were born to this union: Alexandria (Lexi) in 2007, Victoria (Tori) in 2011, and Tru in 2015.  

In addition to continuing the family’s farming and ranching tradition, Lance was also an active participant in his parents’ real estate and auction business.  Over the last 20+ years, he worked as an auctioneer at many different cattle auctions throughout the region including Fairview, OK, Pratt, KS, Beaver, OK, Dodge City, KS, Texhoma, OK, Tulia, TX, and Elk City, OK, among others. He competed for several years in the World Livestock Auctioneering Championship, finishing as Reserve World Champion on his first attempt in Bakersfield, CA in 2000. He won 1^st Runner-up the following year, and had a number of top ten buckles to show for his efforts in subsequent years. He was working for Gary Potter in Blackwell, OK, when in late 2018, Gary offered Lance the opportunity to realize his dream of owning a livestock auction.  Lance and his family launched Southern Plains Livestock Auction in January of 2019 and Lance continued at the helm until his sudden passing on Monday morning, March 2, 2026.

Lance was a man of great faith in God, and he professed his commitment to follow Christ in June of 1991 at Happy, TX. He volunteered his time and talent often over the years for many benefit auctions, even when preceded by a long, hard day of work. He was a devoted and loving son, husband, and father, and his family was his greatest joy. 

Lance is survived by his wife, Tracy, and children Lexi, Tori, and Tru, his parents J.E. and Deborah Cochran, and his sister Jan Cochran. He leaves behind many, many friends who will miss his infectious laugh, his generous heart, and his lively conversations.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2026 at the Caldwell Community Building, Caldwell, Kansas.

Memorials may be made to the Children’s college fund, Blackwell Fire & EMS or to the Blackwell Elk’s Lodge and sent in care of the mortuary.

Visitation will be held 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday.