Leslie Dean Cochran

Leslie Dean Cochran (Buddy) was born on Memorial Day, May 30, 1947 to Leslie Everett Cochran and May Louise McDowell. Les' dad was from Lowell, MS and his mom was from Auckland, New Zealand. They met during WWII when his dad was a Lt. in the Army, stationed in New Zealand.

Les was born in Shelton, WA where his dad worked in the timber business. His dad later worked for the Boeing Co. He was sent along with his family to Cocoa Beach, FL to work in the space program at Cape Canaveral. Leslie graduated from Satellite Beach High School in 1965. He then went to Miami and graduated from Retz Electronics School. He joined the US Air Force in 1967. He met Pamela Ann Nobles in 1967 in Biloxi, MS where he was stationed. They were married in 1968. Leslie served at U-Tapao AFB, Thailand and Clark AFB, Philippines during the Vietnamese War. In 1979 he started Pioneer Electric in Port Orchard, retiring in 2021.

Buddy enjoyed taking his family cross-country, to visit friends and family and many day trips. They went snow-skiing in the winters and sandrailing in the summer.

He was preceded in death by his dad in 1980, his mom in 1985, and his daughter, Michelle Ann Watkins in 2000.

He is survived by his wife, Pam; daughter, Misti Dawn Bruntzel; grandsons, Corey Dean Bruntzel and Ryan Michael Bruntzel, all of Port Orchard, WA; three cousins in Birmingham, AL, Don, Deborah and Delores Mosley; and one cousin in New Zealand, Judy Davis.

One of his greatest pleasures was sitting around a campfire, toasting marshmallows and eating hot dogs!

At the request of Leslie there will be no services.