The Wahkiakum County Eagle-May 8, 2008 Cathlamet, Washington Merle A. Cowan Merle A. Cowan, 91, born in Glentana, Montana on March 5, 1917 passed away at Lodge II-Roolan nursing facility in Lacey, Washington April 22, 2008. She is survived by three of her four children, Bonnie Bourgault (Paul) of Olympia; Joel Watters (Coralie) of Shelton and N. Bradley Cowan (Melody) of Astoria, Oregon. Son Clifford Watters (Charlotte) passed away in 2001. She is also survived by her step-children, Connie Adams (Gordon) of Shelton, Bruce Cowan (Karen) of Union and Bette Morton (Mike) of LaCenter. Step-daughter Sally Stacy (Don) passed away in December of 2006. Merle was raised in Glasgow, Montana where her Norwegian mother owned and operated the Savoy Hotel. Merle's father died when she was only five months old. Her mother raised four girls under the harshest of circumstances and passed on to her daughter her business skills as well as her excellent home making skills. Merle was an outstanding bread maker and produced fine "fancy" work cherished by her grandchildren. Her greatest success was working with her beloved Norman (passed on in 1998) for 30 years dairying on Puget Island, Cathlamet, Washington. Even without high school graduation, her English skills and cursive writing were outstanding. From childhood through later life she could recite Bible verses and poetry and song easily. As a single mother in 1953 she began work at the Shelton Mason County Journal and became an exceptional proof reader and classified ads manager. She gave that up when she and Norman were married on August 17, 1957. The team of Merle and Norman got started in Shelton in 1957. After Brad was born they both yearned to farm and found a great location near Welcome Slough on West Sunny Sands on the Columbia. Retiring in the late 80s, they designed and built their retirement home outside the dike. As dairy farmers they were steady, strong and always there, just like the great river flowing past the farm. Today Brad and Melody and their children carry on the tradition in Astoria, Oregon milking over 900 cows as owner/members of Tillamook. Merle and Norman read and studied the Bible together on a regular basis. They hosted Bible studies at their home. In this small community there were many changes over the years and Merle and Norman saw to it that the new clergy and their families were always welcome and secure. A memorial service will be held at Cathlamet Community Fellowship Church (the old Grange Hall) on Puget Island on Saturday May 31, at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Merle's name to Safeplace, PO Box 2002, Olympia, WA 98507-2002 or a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Mills and Mills of Tumwater. Merle A. (Walters) Watters Cowan Unknown Burial 5 March 1917-22 April 2008 (As compiled by the Wahkiakum County Historical Society in 2008.)