J E Cowan passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2015, at the age of 79. He was the youngest son of the late Frank Jess Cowan and Ruby Lenora (Hopkins) Cowan. J E was born at home on August 12, 1936 in Cyclone, MO. He spent his early years growing up on a farm in Powell, MO. He helped his Dad plant fruit trees, many pine trees, and raise livestock. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his Dad. After he graduated from Rocky Comfort High School, he went to Ark City Junior College, Southwest Missouri State College, and then Pittsburg State College. He became a teacher and taught in a one room schoolhouse in Poplar Hill, then the Barry County Schools, Newton County Schools, Reed Springs, and the Raymore Peculiar School District until he retired. He mostly taught 6th grade Social Studies and Science. After teaching 34 years he retired in June 1990. After retirement he continued to substitute for several years. Through a mutual friend he met Marguerite Vaughn and they were married on June 6, 1981. They had one daughter, Sarah Marguerite. J E became a Christian in 1980 and attended the Church of Christ. He loved the fellowship of fellow Christians. J E did a lot of traveling with his family, including overseas. A lot of the travel was for genealogical searches, he enjoyed putting together family history books. J E always enjoyed putting out a garden and continued to do so even after he got older. He definitely had a green thumb! He was a friendly man who never met a stranger! He jokingly referred to himself as ‘bashful’. He was generous and kind, and loved children. He will be missed by many. He is survived by his daughter Sarah Musser and her husband Beau of St Joseph, MO; two grandchildren: Maggie Lynn and Jackson Elan of St Joseph, MO, and one brother in law Orville (Debra) Vaughn of White Bear Lake, MN. He is also survived by: sisters in law Mary Cowan of Powell, MO, Claudia Vaughn of Belton, MO, Keela Vaughn of Raymore, MO, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 28 years Marguerite (Vaughn), sisters Roberta (Cowan) Studivan-Reeder of Webb City, MO, Dorothy (Cowan) Kyser of Dallas, TX, Twyla (Cowan) Wardlaw of Pineville, MO, and their spouses, as well as one brother: Donnie Cowan of Powell, MO. Visitation 6-8 PM Thursday, September 24, 2015 at Cullen Funeral Home with funeral services 11 AM Friday. Graveside 1 PM Saturday, September 26, 2015 in Cowan Community Cemetery in Powell, MO. Memorials may be made to Raymore Church of Christ or Raymore Lion’s Club.
Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, MO (816)322-5278