Matthew Henry Cochran

Matthew Henry Cochran, 55, Indianapolis, went to live with the Father through Christ, and the Holy Spirit on October 25, 2023, at Community North Hospital. He was born in Indianapolis on September 11, 1968, to Larry Allen Cochran and Carol Ann (Williams) Cochran.

Matt was baptized into Christ's death and resurrection and confirmed at First Trinity Lutheran Church in Indianapolis, Indiana where he remained a lifelong member even though he attended several other churches during his moves back and forth between Indiana and Florida. He was a graduate of Lawrence North High School and Purdue University where he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

He was all about service to others. It began as early as four years old, without being asked, he would change his newborn brother’s diaper. During High School, he was selected for the Eli Lilly Project Leadership Program to mentor underprivileged fifth grade children. He would borrow money from a family member and proceed to give it away to strangers in need and assist elderly people near him no matter where he lived. He was a member of the Key West Sunrise Rotary Club from 2001 through 2008 and was elected as its youngest president. During this time, he helped organize the Rotary Club’s annual Poker Run motorcycle event to raise money for various charities. During his time as president, he headed up a major fundraising effort to buy a bus for a handicapped school in Poland.

From an early age, Matt fell in love with Florida, the ocean, fishing, and the tropical lifestyle. He spent Florda spring breaks with his family from the time he was five years old through his early college years. After his sophomore year at Purdue, he took a sabbatical and headed south to Florida, enrolled at Edison Community College to study Oceanography and spent many hours diving to study ocean life. While there, he supported himself by securing a server job at a beach front Holiday Inn. It was during this time that he became enamored with the Jimmy Buffett free spirit, escapism lifestyle and it would stay with him the remainder of his life. After one semester in Florida, he decided to return to Purdue to finish his degree. He held several hospitality management jobs in Indianapolis after graduation, but after several cold winters in Indiana, he and his wife Tamara pulled up stakes and headed south to pursue a lifestyle in the Florida Keys. Being an avid angler from an early age, he soon acquired an offshore fishing boat and spent untold hours deep sea fishing for dolphins (mahi mahi) in deep water off the Florida Keys. While there, he held positions in resort hotel management and owned the Marine Wildlife Gallery selling Guy Harvey art and apparel. His two children, Ashlyn, and Bryant were born in the Key West Hospital thus becoming true Florida Conchs. This Florida adventure lasted for ten years and for the remainder of his life he would move back and forth between Indiana and Florida two more times.

He was an avid Indy 500 fan from an early age following in the footsteps of his Father and Mother. He attended his first race at eight years old and forty-two races thereafter. He instilled the same passion in his two younger brothers and eventually in his two children and all his nieces and nephews. His “500 crew” eventually swelled to ten family enthusiasts and an annual Memorial Day party. To instill even more excitement into the event, he created an annual race drawing pool that spawned elaborate poster boards showing participants, driver’s names and starting positions.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Henry (Muriel) Cochran and Lucille Long. He is survived by his parents Larry (Carol) Cochran, brothers Bradley (Susan) Cochran of Stuart, Florida, Scott (Shannon) Cochran of Indianapolis, children Ashlyn Cochran and Bryant Cochran of Fishers, Indiana, his beloved nieces and nephews, Jessica, Meghan, Gabe, and Jerimiah, and uncle, Jeff Brackin of Camby, Indiana.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held Saturday November 18^th from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at Heartland Church, 14900 E. 126^th Street, Fishers, IN. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be shared at flannerbuchanan.com/obituaries/matthew-cochran.