Anna Nordeen Cochran Vest, 87, of Millersport, Ohio went to her heavenly home on Thursday, August 26, 2021.

Nordeen was born May 14, 1934, to Rev. Till D. Cochran and Rev. Anna Lee Hutchinson Cochran in Beckley West Virginia. She grew up on the family farm in Daniels, WV and graduated from Shady Springs High School, Beaver, WV, where she met her husband Bobby.  He served stateside in the Air Force during the Korean War and they started their family while stationed at Bryan Air Force Base in Texas. They returned to West Virginia but then moved to Whitehall, Ohio to “escape” severely depressed West Virginia.  She was thankful they had found a better place to raise their four sons.

At the time of her passing she was an active member of East Livingston Baptist Church in Reynoldsburg where she was congregational pianist (alongside Norma Mercurio).  Previously, she had been a member of Whitehall Baptist Church for 40 years.  She was active in many roles in American Baptist and Southern Baptist churches.  As a child she played piano and cornet in services at her father’s pastorate in Pluto, WV. She was a Sunday School teacher, Church Treasurer, Pastor Search Committee Person, deliverer of Meals on Wheels with her Acteen girls, and participant in an array of denominational events. She was especially blessed that God allowed her to work in Mission Work with SBC Acteens as State Coordinator and was involved in Women’s Missions Groups in both SBC and ABC churches.  She developed relationships with many home and foreign missionaries.  Nordeen secured flags from every country represented by SBC missionaries.  She created a flag program that was presented to many Ohio churches and events.

A former 35 year resident of Whitehall, Nordeen served the community in the business office of Whitehall City Schools, retiring as Assistant Treasurer.  She was the “go to” person when it came to insurance and proper money management. During a short stint as Acting Clerk Treasurer, she accurately closed the fiscal year (Dena McDonald located the errant 5 cents), brought on board a modernized computer system ahead of other school districts, and implemented a new state mandated General Accounting System.

She enjoyed music, gardening, friends and attending worship services.  She loved and enjoyed all her kinfolk and felt it an honor to be a grandmother and great grandmother.

Nordeen is survived by sons Rodney, Dennis (Diane), Dale and Dana Vest; grandson Shane Vest (Stacie); great grandchildren Lane (fiancée Kassidy), Makayla, twins Braxton and Camden; nephew Scott Cochran, nieces Molly Cochran and Colleen Corcoran; sisters-in-law Christine Vest DeHart, Geneva Vest Lucas; brother-in-law John (Linda) Vest; first cousin Mary Lynn Pendleton Sanderson; and the many Vest nieces and nephews of whom she loved very much.  She regretted she could not attend the July Vest Reunion.  This year she celebrated 50 years of friendship with Peg Altizer.  Life presented special opportunities for Nordeen to be closely involved with Shane, Lane, and Makayla so that she often said she raised seven babies.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bobby Vest, humanitarian brother Bud T. Cochran, Ph.D., sweet sister Joy Cochran Fritz (who was also a substitute mother), nephews David T. Fritz and Shawn P. Cochran, nieces Karen Lucas Hockey and Cathy DeHart Wilson; daughters-in-law Lynn L. Hochuli Vest and Cathy Cooney Vest.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 am Tuesday, August 31 at East Livingston Baptist Church, 6500 East Livingston Ave., Reynoldsburg, OH with Dr. George Winters officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.  Interment at the Cochran Family Cemetery, Daniels, WV. Son Dennis, grandson Shane, and great grandson Lane will be the honor guard that escorts Nordeen on her final ride to West Virginia.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to East Livingston Baptist Church (6500 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068, phone: 614.866.1881) or Fairhope Hospice and Palliative Care ( https://fairhopehospice.org ).