Brada Cowan

Born in Oark, Arkansas on December 26, 1919

Departed on August 23, 2016 and resided in McKinney, Texas

Brada Mary Ann Gill Cowan was born into eternal life on August 23, 2016. She died peacefully surrounded by her daughters and family members at Grand Brooke Assisted Living in McKinney, Texas.

Brada lived a full and abundant life of 96 years filled with being "Mom" to four children, a full time working career, "Mema" to nine grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild, lifelong devotion and service to her Christian faith, including the founding of Douglas Boulevard United Methodist Church in Midwest City, Oklahoma, actively involved in all her children's schools and education, extended care for numerous family members and generous giving of herself to all in need of Christian love and care.

She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-three years, Elmer W. Cowan; her parents, Jonas Mason and Sarah Leona Yates Gill; brothers, Gordon Clinton Gill, Walter Dalton Gill, and Eugene Hallie Gill; sister, Ollie Zoe "Oza" Gill; brothers-in-law, Verl John Cowan, Etzel Elvin Cowan, and Cecil Doyle Cowan; sisters-in-law, Jeanetta Pearl Cowan Stinson, Robbie Ella Cowan Fallgreen, Elzada Cowan Kraus and Alma Ann Vaught Gill.

Brada Mary Ann was born December 26, 1919 in Oark, Johnson County, Arkansas. She married Elmer W. Cowan on December 29, 1937 outside of Clarksville, Johnson County, Arkansas.

Three of their four children were born while Brada and Elmer were living in Clarksville/Spadra, Arkansas. Their fourth child was born in Harrah, Oklahoma. In 1943, the family moved from Spadra, Arkansas to Midwest City, Oklahoma; after initially renting a house, they purchased their first home in Oklahoma City. Subsequently, the family moved to their next home in Midwest City. Following retirement, Brada and Elmer moved to Eufaula, Oklahoma and then to Franklin, Tennessee. Following Elmer's death in 2001, Brada moved to live with her daughter, Audrey Jean Cowan Sims, and her family in Frisco, Texas. For the past four years, due to her diminished mobility and failing health, Brada resided at Grand Brooke Assisted Living in McKinney, Texas.

Brada Mary Ann Gill Cowan attended and graduated from Business College in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and subsequently became employed in the State of Oklahoma Highway Department in the Computer and Data Processing Division. She managed a group responsible for processing road survey data. She retired from the State of Oklahoma in 1975.

Among the many little things that brought her so much joy were summer visits by her children and their families at the "The Lake", making a plate full of homemade sausage biscuits for her grandsons' periodic morning visits, and hearing her great-grandsons sing "Red River Valley" to her.

Brada is survived by her children: son, Stanley Elmer Cowan and his wife, Luz Selena ‘Lucy' Cowan of Houston, Texas; daughter, Audrey Jean Cowan Sims and her husband, Henry Sims of Frisco, Texas; daughter, Carol Ann Cowan Butterworth and her husband, James Butterworth of Anna, Texas; and daughter, Betty Janice Cowan Menzie of Franklin, Tennessee; nine grandchildren - Roy Benton Butterworth II, and his wife Shirley Butterworth of Anna, Texas; Caroline Cowan Butterworth Palmer, and her husband, Douglas Ian Palmer of San Francisco, California; William Clinton ‘Clint' Butterworth, and his wife, Stacy Jones Butterworth of Brentwood, Tennessee; Jill Suzanne Sims Whitfield, and her husband, Rodney Leonard Whitfield of Wyle, Texas; Craig Warren Menzie, and his wife, Jennifer Karrels Menzie of Franklin, Tennessee; Jamie Morgan Menzie Sumner, and her husband, Joe Dalton Sumner of Franklin, Tennessee; Michael Albert Cowan of Brenham, Texas; David Warren Cowan of Brenham, Texas; and James Christopher Cowan, and his wife, Ashley Rath Cowan of Katy, Texas; great-grandchildren - Roy Benton Butterworth III of McKinney, Texas; Nicholas Doyle Sportsman and Michael Richard Sportsman, both of Anna, Texas; Shelby Catharine Stapleton of Brentwood, Tennessee; Aiden Edward Menzie, Leo Brooks Menzie and Cook Warren Menzie, all of Franklin, Tennessee; Charles Cowan Sumner, twins Jonas Dalton and Cora Belle Sumner, all of Franklin, Tennessee; and Elise Christine Cowan and Jacob Andrew Cowan, both of Katy, Texas; and great-great-grandchild - Brenley Nicole Nobles of Leonard, Texas. She also is survived by her sister, Belma Lea Gill Jaggers of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

At a graveside service for the immediate family, Brada will be laid to rest next to Elmer in Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens in Nashville, Tennessee. The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, any memorial gifts in memory of Brada be made to The Brenham State Supported School, 4001 Hwy 36 South, Brenham, TX 77833-9610, or High Hopes, 301 High Hopes Ct., Franklin, TN 37064.