Ralph Cowan Loving Husband & Father June 14, 1910 ~ August 26, 2000

We are gathered here to honor Ralph Cowan. It’s been difficult for me to come up with something appropriate to say. My first instincts were to nurse my grief at losing him, and to dwell on the awful pain Dad suffered thru his illness. I rummaged thru poetry and dissolved into tears over and over again listening to old song lyrics. Nothing was right. Finally yesterday I had the opportunity to be alone for any length of time since Daddy’s death. I was in the middle of a 4 hour drive and was in the vicinity of our “California hometown” when I knew what to say. Memories flooded over me like the silk hand of God. Daddy at his happiest. Daddy at the sink in the kitchen cleaning a mess of catfish he’d caught that day in the canals, Daddy slamming that big six down to race ahead of me in dominos, I even saw his gnarled hands on my steering wheel, Daddy shooting the moon in a pinochle game at a table surrounded by a bunch of his kids, Daddy yelling for us to “GO GO GO” at our swim meets, Daddy smooching Mom long and hard……………Daddy at the head of our dinner table, head lowered eyes checking us all out, admonishing us with this sign to bow our heads as he offered grace……… (Recited by the male members of the family) Come Lord Jesus be thou our guest, May we and all that thou has given us be blessed. We thank thee heavenly Father for the food thou hast provided, Bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies. Be with the sick, the afflicted, those in mourning, those in need, Be with all who travel, land air and sea. Keep all in thy saving and protecting hand, This day and hence forth if it be thy will. These favors we ask in Christ’s name and for his sake, Amen But the thing I remember bringing that sparkle to Dad’s eye was being greeted by his dogs or his kids. I can see those dark bushy eyebrows arch up, eyes wide open, mouth drawn back in unabashed pleasure. I know in my heart that when Dad stepped over that line between life and eternity, the first thing he heard was the exuberant barking of his dogs……Pepper, Macaboy, Sadie, Curry, Bandit, Budgie, Markie, Bo, Raydene, and Lucky leading the pack, followed closely by a toddler running as fast as she can, arms out stretched, a huge smile on her face squealing, “Daddy, Daddy”. His brothers and sister, his Father and Mother, friends all coming him to greet him, finding him knocked off his feet with Nora Lee in his arms and 10 dogs licking wagging their tails beside themselves with joy. Dad is with them now, those who have waited so long to be reunited. We were blest with his presence for so many years and we will be blest again with the same joyous greeting he experienced when we take that step into eternity. I am thrilled with this vision of my father.

Our Hero walks with a Friend