Rachel Cowen was born on October 8, 1915 in Mammoth Spring, Ark. to the late Robert and Martha (Blackburn) Powell. She was born in a log cabin built by her grandfather. Rachel was raised and schooled in the Mammoth Spring's area.
In 1934, she married Loyd Griffith. To this union one child, Noel was born. On Feb. 10, 1947, she was united in marriage with James Cowen in Hutchinson, Kan. Two children, Donald and Marjorie, were born to their union.
During World War II, Rachel worked assembling bombs for the Emerson Electric Company in St. Louis After her marriage to Jim, they engaged in farming in the Hutchinson and Mammoth Spring area before moving to Shenandoah in 1952, where they also farmed.
In 1984, Jim and Rachel moved to Council Bluffs, where they remained until September of 1995 when they returned to Shenandoah. Through the years, Rachel worked in the hospital, nursing homes and private homes in the Shenandoah area. Even after retiring, she continued to reach out to others with a gentle hand and loving spirit. Family and friends have warm memories of her love of baking through the many pies, cakes and bread she shared. Rachel was a charter member of the Memorial Baptist Church and enjoyed serving wherever she was needed. She taught Sunday school for 27 years and had the pleasure of teaching her own children and grandchildren.
Rachel was preceded in death by her parents; brother; husband Jim; son Noel Griffith and her former daughter-in-law Joanne Cowen.
Survivors include two children, Donald L. Cowen of Shenandoah and Marjorie A. Barrett and husband Richard of Sunrise Beach, Mo. daughter-in-law Nedra Griffith of Kansas City, Mo.; grandchildren Kevin Griffith and wife Holly of Harrisonville, Mo., Keith Griffith of Kansas City, Mo., Matthew Barrett and wife Deann of Colorado Springs, Colo., Monica Bartlett and husband Joseph of Shenandoah, Elizabeth Egge of Danbury, Conn. and William Cowen and wife Erin of Kalamazoo, Mich.; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; other family and friends.
Funeral Services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Kalstrup officiating. Burial followed in the Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Memorial Baptist. Attending to the memorial register was Judy Wilson. Laurie Johnson and Carolyn Ruhde cared for flowers. Casket Bearers included Kevin Griffith, Matthew Barrett, William Cowen, Jacob Griffith, Jacob Barrett and Gary Haskin. Honorary bearers included Richard Barrett, Joseph Bartlett and Brian Griffith. Special music was provided by Terry Stafford and Becca Jacskon. Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Published in Shenandoah Valley News Today on May 17, 2013