WALDOBORO — Harlan E. ‘Buster’ Cochran, 91, passed away Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at home with his loving family at his side.

Born on February 26, 1935, in Rockland, he was the son of Frank Matthew and Helen Macki Cochran. Known to all who loved him as ‘Buster,’ he lived a life defined by hard work, quiet strength, and deep devotion to his family and the land.

Educated locally he was a graduate of Thomaston High School. From an early age, he took to hunting and fishing, not merely as pastimes, but as a means of putting food on the family table, a tradition he carried with him throughout his life. The skills he honed as a young man shaped the self-reliant and dependable character that all who knew him came to admire.

Answering the call of duty, Buster proudly served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957. He met Alice Chaples in 1964, they fell in love and moved to West Meadow Road in Thomaston. They married in December 1976, beginning what would become a long and happy marriage.

Buster built a career grounded in honest, physical labor. He spent 23 years with Dragon Cement, where he drove trucks, operated drills, and took on the full range of tasks. He also took to the sea, fishing out of New Bedford, Massachusetts, adding the Atlantic to the list of landscapes he called his own.

At home, Buster maintained a family farm where he raised animals for food and tended a garden, a continuation of the values instilled in him as a boy. Whether in the woods, on the water, or working the land, he was most at peace when his hands were busy and his family was near.

Predeceased by his sister, Joanne Connon; a grandson, Andrew Kinney; and a daughter, LouAnn Kinney; Mr. Cochran is survived by his beloved wife, Alice Cochran of Waldoboro; his children William Cochran and his wife Kimberly, Allison Wilson and her husband Paul, all of Cushing, Kari Barlow and her husband Albert, Mark Peterson and his wife Neala, all of Thomaston; ten grandchildren, Matthew Mackie, Nichole Quinn, Rose Peterson, Lindsey Barlow, Ryan Peterson, Kendra Hubbard, Michael Wilson, Jake Wilson, and Meaghan Briggs; twenty-three great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson coming in July; and his brother, Frank Cochran of Waldoboro.

Buster leaves behind a legacy of hard work, love of the natural world, and a family that spans four generations. He was the kind of man who needed no spotlight, only open sky, and a good fishing spot. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

A graveside celebration of Busters life will be held Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 12 Noon, at Achorn Cemetery, Old County Road, Rockland.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland.

The Hospice In Home care Harlan received was exceptional and we would like to express our sincere gratitude.

To share a memory or condolence with the Cochran family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.