Samuel Henry Cowan
Feb. 26, 1924 ­ Sept. 10, 2005
Samuel Henry Cowan of Prescott passed away on Sept.10, 2005 at the Brockville General Hospital. He was 81.
He was born on Feb. 26, 1924 in Matilda Township, one of eight children to James Arthur Cowan and the former Elsie Mae Wallace. He attended Pleasant Valley Public School and enjoyed a short stay at South Mountain High School.
Samuel's first job was working at Pelton's Cheese Factory in Hyndman and later attended the Kemptville Agricultural School where he studied cheese-making. He continued his pursuit of cheese-making, working at the Ventnor factory, Ault Cheese in Winchester, and later at Cowan's Dairy in Brockville. Samuel often entered his cheese in the Spencerville and South Mountain Fairs, taking home first prize on several occasions.
He married Marie Gilmer on June 11, 1955 at the Pleasant Valley United Church. The couple settled in Prescott to begin a family, eventually having four children. Following a brief stint with Webster and Horsefall, Samuel obtained a salesman position with Electrolux in 1964, where he remained for nearly 40 years. He achieved exceptional sales records, often winning first prize for monthly sales earned.
Samuel enjoyed gardening, fishing, working outdoors and visiting with people. He was an active member of the Seaway Christian Church and a member of the L.O.L. 143 Groveton, R.B.P. 509 Winchester and I.O.O.F. 80 Prescott.
Samuel received a special gift of discernment following a trip to a Kathryn Kuhlman service in Pittsburgh, allowing him to interpret numerical messages and sense individual pain of those he encountered. He had since organized several bus loads of people to attend Benny Hinn and Kathryn Kuhlman crusades on several occasions.
He is survived by his wife Marie of 50 years, and children Evan Cowan of Prescott, Shawn Cowan and his girlfriend Debbie Taber of Jasper and Penny Perrin (Wayne) of Prescott, and his former son-in-law Larry Oswald. He will be fondly remembered by grandchildren Steven and Amy Perrin, and Chantel and Amber Oswald of Edmonton. Samuel will also be sadly missed by his sisters Muriel Moulton (Ron) of Brockville, Doris Rupert of Prescott, Yvonne Cowan of Morrisburg and Eileen Hunter (Ted) of Domville and sisters-in-law Lurlene Bobics and Elaine Cowan. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter Marsha (Cowan) Oswald, his brothers Keith Cowan, Orval Cowan, his sister Golda Beckstead, and brothers-in-law Allen Rupert, Jonnie Beckstead and Arnott Conley.
Visitation was held at Grant Brown Funeral Home, Purcell Chapel in Spencerville on Sept. 13 and 14. He was remembered with a combined service of the L.O.L. 143 Groveton and the L.O.B.A. 483 Groveton and also the I.O.O.F. 80 Prescott on the evening of Sept. 13, 2005. The funeral service was held on Sept. 14 in the chapel of the funeral home at 1 pm, officiated by Pastor Barry Edmondson and Pastor A.R. Leavitt. Muriel Irving was the organist and Preston Gilmer provided the eulogy His son Evan sang "Till The Storm Passes By" and played "Going Home" and granddaughter Amy Perrin played "Slipped Away".
Pallbearers were Barry Fortington, Joe Stadig, Kerry Flanagan, Dalton Gilmer, Art Duncan and Carl Gilmer. Honorary pallbearers were Lloyd Cowan and Leo Kaschube. Interment was held at Roselawn Memorial Gardens.
Memorial donations to Seaway Christian Church or Juvenile Diabetes would be gratefully acknowledged.