Gary N. Cochran, 53, of Fernandina Beach passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at UF Health in Jacksonville, after a short illness. Mr. Cochran was born in Aiken, South Carolina a son of the Larry and Willa Roach Cochran. Gary spent much of his younger life in Waynesboro, Georgia and was a graduate of Georgia Southern University holding Bachelor of Science degrees in both Education and Communications and Public Relations.

After successful careers with the American Cancer Society in Macon, Georgia and the Georgia Department of Human Resources in Atlanta, he moved to Amelia Island to accept a position at the Ritz Carlton in 2005. At the Ritz Carlton, he enjoyed his work in Event Planning and Food Service and developed many long lasting friendships while there.

He will always be remembered as a loving son, brother and a doting uncle and someone who always enjoyed life and made things more enjoyable and better for those around him.

Mr. Cochran was predeceased by his brother, Wesley Cochran, in 2015.

His surviving family includes his mother, Willa R. Cochran; his father, Larry Cochran; a brother, Barry Cochran and his wife, Lydia, all of Fernandina Beach; nieces and nephew, Carman Cochran of Fernandina Beach and Margaret and Daniel Cochran of Cochran, GA and his best friend, Terry Jones, of Dublin, GA.

Funeral services for Mr. Cochran will be held Friday, September 22, 2017 at 2:00 PM in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors. Burial will follow at Bosque Bello Cemetery.