Jerald D. 'Jerry' Cowan

Funeral services for Jerald D. Cowan, age 83, of Madisonville have been scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 19, 2014, at the Madisonville Funeral Home, with Bill Jeter officiating. Burial will be held at the Madisonville City Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 pm. on Friday, July 18, at the funeral home. Jerald D. Cowan was born in Pettigrew, Ark., on Sept. 2, 1930, to Martin Luther and Cleo (Anderson) Cowan. He passed away on July 13, 2014, at the St. Joseph Regional Health Center in Bryan, Texas. Jerry lived in Madisonville since 1970, and previously lived in Puerto Rico where he retired from the U.S. Air Force. He was a member of the Hwy. 90 Church of Christ in Madisonville. Mr. Cowan retired from the U.S. Postal Service after several years of employment due to his health. He lived in Centerton, Ark., during his teenage years, and he graduated from Bentonville High School in 1949 and went on to graduate from the Business College in Springfield, Mo., in 1951. After graduation, he enlisted in the Air Force. Jerry enjoyed gardening and loved traveling, especially to the Western United States. He went to Texas Burger for coffee in the mornings and to meet with his friends. He was known for his dry sense of humor, and for being a kind and gentle man. Mr. Cowan was preceded in death by his son, James Dean Cowan; parents; brothers, Kenneth Cowan, Keith Cowan; and sister, Wilma Dean Franks. Surviving family includes his wife, Betty Cowan of Madisonville; daughter-in-law, Debra Cowan of Midway; daughter, Jennifer Dyer and husband, Larry, of Bryan; grandchildren, Lacey Hunt, Jimmy Dyer, Robert Coleman, Travis Coleman; and great-grandchildren, Houston and Brooklyn Hunt, Kyle, Micah and Ryan Coleman and Alex, Andrew and Austin Farrack. Pallbearers will be Travis Coleman, Jimmy Dyer, Keith Ketchum, Hut Campbell, Dave Callaham, Brett Smith and Robert Coleman. Honorary pallbearers will be David Cowan, Larry Dyer, Jimmy Ketchum, Randy Cowan, Roger Franks and Paul James. Madisonville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.