Obituaries

Joyce Ann Cowan

October 13th, 1937 – May 14th, 2022

Joyce Ann Cowan, age 84 from Crawfordsville, Indiana, passed away at 10:30 am on Saturday, May 14th at the home of her daughter in Crawfordsville with her family at her side. She was born on October 13, 1937, in Peoria, Illinois, the daughter of Rudolph and Edna (Harmon) Smith. She is survived by Vernon “Bobby” Cowan who she married on April 5, 1964, in Keokuk, Iowa.

Also surviving are her five children: Elizabeth (and Randy) Cordell of Crawfordsville, Verna (and Darrell) Caho of East Peoria, Illinois, Rachel (and Jim) Campbell of Crawfordsville, Sharon (and Jerry) Burdess of Cuba, Illinois, and Sam (and Stephanie) Cowan of New Washington, Indiana, fifteen grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two sisters, Helen Adams of Zanesville, Ohio and Loretta Kotzmoyer of Landisville, Pennsylvania and brother Frank (and Juanita) Smith of Greenville, South Carolina. Joyce was preceded in death by six brothers and sisters.

Joyce graduated from Limestone Community High School in Bartonville, Illinois. She was a homemaker dedicating her life to her family. Joyce was faithful in serving God, by providing lodging and food to man¬y of God’s servants over her lifetime. She was a devoted and active member of several churches over the years. Most recently she was a member of the Fremont Street Baptist Church in Crawfordsville, Indiana, where she and Bob resided. Joyce loved to entertain and was an excellent cook who always had a home that was warm and inviting to all who came by. She loved her grandchildren and they called her “Meme”. She had a way of making her grandchildren feel special in their own way. Joyce will be greatly missed by her husband, family, friends, and acquaintances.

Services will be held on Monday, May 23rd at 3:00 p.m. at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria, Illinois. Pastors Howard Love and Pastor Dan Aldrich will officiate. Visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m. prior to the service on Monday. Interment will be held in the Mount Zion Cemetery in Astoria, Illinois. Memorials in Joyce’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.