Louis Richard Cowan

Mr. Louis Richard Cowan was born in Rowan County as the second eldest of four siblings to his late parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sherrill and Dorothy Cowan on October 1, 1933. His siblings include Rachel Cowan Sherrill, Clayton Cowan, Norris Cowan and Joanne Cowan Phifer. He peacefully passed away at the Gordon Hospice House in Statesville on Monday March 31, 2025 following a stay that began on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at Iredell Memorial Hospital, Statesville, NC.       

Richard grew up in the Shinnville Community where he attended South Iredell Rosenwald School. In addition to years of employment with Burlington Mills, Mr. Richard was a self-employed business owner with various entrepreneurships. He would get up early and work his home businesses before going to Burlington and continued working his businesses once he got off from work. Those businesses included Cowan’s Septic Tank and he also owned a chicken farm which he purchased from Mr. Russel Cowan of the Amity Hill and Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church Community. One of his most notable and long lasting collaborations was with Mr. Butch Graham’s Picture Machine business. They traveled together and developed a richly cherished and lasting partnership up and down the east coast and to Tennessee with Richard’s Snow Cone Truck Business. Richard sold candy apples, cotton candy, popcorn, snow balls and funnel cakes. His snowballs were called “honey dribble” because of the special sweet syrup he used along with his block ice which he ground. His oldest son, Robert Cowan traveled and assisted him. Butch took lasting and memorable pictures of individuals and couples.

Richard was joined in holy matrimony in 1954 to the love of his life, Mrs. Ethel Tucker. They settled in the Shinnsville Community in 1959 next to his parents. God blessed the Cowan’s with three sons, Robert Cowan, Tim Parker, and James Parker (deceased). There are some very sweet memories that Robert and Tim will forever hold dear in their hearts about their Dad. Precious to them now are words of wisdom their Dad lived by, “Shut Your Mouth and Pay Attention.” We could all learn just a little something from this proverb. Additional precious memories include Richard attending every single baseball and football game at home and away that they participated in whether at South Iredell High School or with the local community baseball team named the Tangerines.

In addition to his parents, Richard was preceded in death by his eldest brother Clayton (Geneva), brother Norris, and youngest sister, Joanne Cowan Phifer (Jordan). Left to remember and celebrate the blessing of Richard’s life are his devoted and lovely wife of 71 years, Mrs. Ethel Cowan, his devoted and kindhearted Sister, Rachel Cowan Sherrill, two sons, Robert of the home and Tim Parker of Conover, ten grandchildren, Geralme Harris, Teachey Tucker, Zion Cowan, Robert Jr., Quet, Brittany Parker, Tomara Parker, Jaidyn Parker, Darius Daniels, Jasmine Sharp, ten great grandchildren, Jarann, Hyrum, Destiny, Kavion, Jada, Jayden, Emerie, Elijah, Keeley, Elias, and two great great grandchildren, Karty and Nova. Special friends include Sandy Shuford, Renee Daniels, Ronnie and Ann Wooten, Stan Graham, Beadie, Nathaniel Ramsey and a host of many more.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

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