Donald Rodney Cowen, Jr., 65, of Yakima, went to be with the Lord on October 23rd, 2011. Although Don had been battling Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) for several years, his death came somewhat unexpectedly.
Don was born August 9th, 1946 in Klamath Falls, Oregon to Donald and Gladys Cowen. The family lived in various places in the northwest before settling in Dayton, Washington where Don spent most of his childhood. Don had many fond memories of growing up with his parents and sisters Jennifer and Paulette. He graduated from Dayton High School in 1964.
After high school he attended Spokane Community College where he earned an Associate Degree in Architectural Drafting. While living in Spokane he met his wife Konnie (Demmitt) Cowen. They were married in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on January 20th, 1967. They lived in Walla Walla briefly before moving to Yakima where they had their two children, daughter Toni Ann (Cowen) Nugent and son Timothy Lee Cowen.
Don lived the last 40-plus years of his life in Yakima watching his children and grandchildren grow. He worked as an architectural draftsmen for various firms before working nearly 20 years at the Hanford site. Don and Konnie owned and operated The Coin Vault where they came to know many people and developed many friendships. Don worked the last few years of his career for Bechtel in the Tri-Cities, before retiring in 2009. He was a sports enthusiast who enjoyed collecting baseball cards, coaching youth soccer, and watching stock car racing at the Speedway.
His life took a drastic change in 2007 when he lost his wife, Konnie, to cancer and the effects of CHF really started to show up. These events altered his outlook on life by making him more thankful, strengthening his faith in God and cherishing his time with loved ones.
Don reconnected with his high school sweetheart Joni (Conklin) Beasley this past summer. They spent the last few months reminiscing about old times and making new memories. They enjoyed playing games, watching movies, and taking road trips, but most of all just being together.
Don is survived by his daughter Toni Nugent and son-in-law Phil, son Timothy Cowen and daughter-in-law April, mother Gladys Cowen, sisters Jennifer Lee and brother-in-law Ralph, sister Paulette Johnson and brother-in-law Lars, four grandchildren Kelsie Nugent, Stephen Nugent, Dakota Cowen, Sierra Denend, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Konnie, and father Donald Cowen, Sr.
The family is grateful to the people at Memorial Hospital, especially the Infusion Care staff members whom he got to know very well over the past few years.
A memorial service will be Saturday Oct. 29, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Yakima Chapel of Valley Hills Funeral Home. Graveside inurnment will follow at Terrace Heights Memorial Park, with a reception at Terrace Heights Community Presbyterian Church.
|
|
