Long time Arizona/New Mexico rancher, Cordelia (Cordy) Carolyn Cowan, 86, peacefully passed away on June 7, 2011, at her daughter Flossie’s home in Albuquerque. She was born January 1, 1925 to Marguerite and Ben Robertson in Deming. Cordy met William (Bill) R. Cowan in high school in Douglas and were married on December 14, 1943. They lived in McNeal where they raised Quarter Horses and began the Southwest’s first Brahman herd in 1948. Cordy owned her own ranch at Cloverdale NM. In 1967 Bill and Cordy moved the headquarters to New Mexico and lived there till 2001 when they moved to Tucson. In 2009 Cordy moved to Albuquerque.
She was a Charter Member of the Cochise College Foundation board, president and remained on the board for 30 years. She was instrumental in the establishment, funding, and continuation of the Cochise College rodeo program. It is difficult to separate Cordy’s accomplishments from Bill’s because they were such a team for 63 years. As a couple they were inducted into the Hidalgo County Hall of Fame with Cordy being the first woman inductee. She and Bill raised the National Champion at the Houston Livestock Show. Their ranch was once highlighted by Paul Harvey. Along with two other couples, they bought two barracks in Ft. Huachuca, brought them to McNeal to become the Ladies Aid Center.
Cordy is survived by her daughters Ruth Evelyn Cowan Giles (Bob) of Sierra Vista, AZ; Marguerite Vensel and Flossie Holly both of Albuquerque, New Mexico; four grandchildren, five great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Letters, mementos, and photos can be emailed to cordy.cowan@gmail.com to be posted on www.memory-of.com . Type in Cordy Cowan. Tributes can also be posted directly to the website. In lieu of donations Cordy requested that you tell your family you love them take them to dinner, buy your friend a flower, attend a meeting protecting private property rights, fill out an organ donation card or do a good deed for your fellow man.
A joint celebration of life for both Bill and Cordy will be held Monday June 27, 10AM St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Douglas where they were married. Reception to follow at the Douglas Country Club. (Motels Best Western 520-364-5000 / Travel Motel 520-364-8434)
4 comments:
My thoughts and prayers are with all of the Cowan family.Cordy and Bill Cowan were truely two of the best people ever put on this earth.They will be missed by many.God bless
Tina Taylor Shearman
Hi everyone,
My eyes fill so I cant see each time someone from my childhood goes to heaven.Like my own grandparents Buster and Sally,Bill and Cordy were larger than life and lived in a magical place with beautiful horses that lived in there own houses,big big bulls big enough for a circus.Three girls that would play outside all night under the big trees and millions of stars.one more time please before we go in red rover red rover
send bryan over is now pure joy.Once inside the house you knew you were in a castle it seemed there were a hundred beatiful dolls for each of the girls Ruth Evelyn,Marguerite,and Flossie .
I want to thank my mother Louise for being there for me, like Bill and Cordy was there for their family and Im asking Ruth Evelyn,Marguerite,and Flossie to please call or e-mail my mother so she can tell you how much she loves everyone in your family.Her
e-mail is fisherman66@peoplepc.com
Thank you God for our family.
LOVE ALWAYS BRYAN
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