Source: http://obituaries.claremoreprogress.com/obituary/bertha-cowan-798451601

Bertha Cowan

Services to honor and celebrate the life of Bertha “Faye” (Campbell) Cowan will be 10 a.m. Thursday, June 30, 2016 in the Chapel of the Garden at Rice Funeral Service. She will be laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery. Family will receive friends for visitation from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home. Faye passed away Sunday, June 26, 2016 at home surrounded by her loving family. She was 84.

Born May 12, 1932 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Faye was the daughter of Harry Millard and Bertha Nina (McCarty) Campbell. When Faye was six years old, the family made a move to Rogers County. It was there that she was reared and educated, first attending Talala schools and later attending and graduating with Claremore High School's class of 1950.

While in high school, Faye worked with and showed cattle. It was while performing these duties at the county fair that she met a fellow showman from Chelsea, Robert “Bob” Cowan. As it would turn out, the two began a courtship and were able to manage a 'long distance' relationship for a few years.

In those days, transportation was a little more difficult to come by so there were numerous double and group dates as the young people of Chelsea loaded up to head into Claremore. This is where the love between young Faye and Bob continued to grow and on October 6, 1950 vows were exchanged as the couple joined together in marriage at the Church of Christ in Tulsa.

Through the years, the Cowan family would grow with the birth of children: Carol, John, Jerry and Anita. In addition to being a supportive wife and mother, Faye found employment outside the home as she served as an office manager for over 20 years at the Claremore hospital.

Following her service to the hospital, Faye worked an additional job in healthcare and also at a couple of local department stores. It seems though that her contribution to healthcare not only served as a way to financially contribute to the wellbeing of her family, but it also became a way of life for Faye as she selflessly devoted her time and efforts — compassionately caring for a number of her own family members during their times of need.

During retirement, Faye traveled alongside Bob on his sales route. This allowed her to help Bob and also to see much of the country as traveling was one of her favorite things to do. For a time, they both enjoyed the benefits of a timeshare and were able to see and do things they otherwise would have missed out on. Another of Faye's favorite things to do was to read. She volunteered on the Literacy Council Board and helped others receive the gift of literacy. She and Bob have also remained active and committed to the work of the Church of Christ at the Sixth and Seminole congregation.

A caring wife, mother, family member and friend, Faye's passion was to always help others. This legacy will now be handed down to those surviving family members: her husband of 65 years, Robert "Bob" Cowan of the home; children: Carol Cowan of Tulsa, Jerry Cowan and wife, Terry of Baytown, Texas and Anita Miller and husband, Greg of Catoosa; 9 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; a sister, Sharon Allen and husband, Lawrence of Floydada, Texas and a brother, Owen Campbell and wife, Beth of Huffman, Texas.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; a son, John Robert Cowan and a daughter-in-law, Sue.