Obituary of Miriam V. Cowell

Miriam V. Cowell Miriam V. Cowell, a Vancouver resident, died Thursday November 29th in Vancouver. She was 94. Mrs. Cowell was born March 29, 1913 in Des Moines, Iowa. She graduated from business school there and subsequently moved to Hollywood, CA at the age of 27. She found work at a bank then worked for McDonnell Douglas during the war. At that time she met and married Wilson F. Cowell in 1943. She raised her family and then worked for the Los Angeles County Assessor from 1963 until retiring in 1976. She and Wilson moved to Hemet, CA that year and lived there until his death in 1999. She relocated to Vancouver in 2000. She was very active in Boy Scouts and served as a District Director of the Girl Scouts. She supported her children in all their activities. She loved to garden and crochet. She was an accomplished seamstress and the family remembers many camping vacations all over the US. One of her passions was card games - mostly pinochle - and she spent many evenings playing board games with her neighbors at Van Mall Retirement Center. Miriam is survived by her son Robert W. Cowell of Washougal, WA; daughters Barbara L. Hollis of Pasadena , MD and Bonnie L. See of Kuna, ID; stepsons Kenneth Stanley of Thousand Oaks, CA and Don Stanley of Westlake, CA; 16 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren. Memorial services for Mrs. Cowell will be 2 PM Tuesday December 4th at the United Methodist Church in Washougal. Inurnment will follow at a later date at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, CA. The family suggests remembrances in Miriam?s name be made to the Ray Hickey Hospice House, 2112 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98661. To send condolences or to sign the online guest book please visit www.straubsfuneralhome.com. Straub?s Funeral Home & Columbia River Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.