Orena Verona (Murrell) Cowan was born to Elmer and Gladys Murrell. Orena had 4 siblings – Glen, Fern, Harlan and Dale. She completed elementary and her high school education in Mountain View. After her high school graduation Orena accepted a position as a telephone operator in Willow Springs Missouri. During her high school years one of her best friends was Genevieve Cowan. It was through Genevieve that she met Gerald Cowan. They kept in close contact via many letters during Gerald’s deployment to Germany during World War II. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Orena accepted his proposal and on April 9th 1946 she married Gerald Eugene Cowan. Shortly after they were married they moved from Missouri to Montana. They lived in and around Havre Montana where Gerald worked on the Union Pacific Railroad, worked dry land farming and raised cattle. Together they had 5 children, Carolyn (Loren Dahl), Donna (Don Cronrath), Joyce (Mike Marchbanks), Rick (Deb) Cowan, and Diane (Mart Svaty).
In 1968 they moved from Montana to Nampa Idaho. She was a faithful wife and loving mother. Whose main purpose was to be a mother to each of her children. Her main focus in life was to teach them the importance of a grace filled relationship with God. She provided for her family through her gardening, sewing and her amazing ability to make awesome meals out of the simplest of means. She was an avid reader and loved reading and studying her bible.
Orena was a faithful member of the Church of the Nazarene. She and Gerald helped start the Church of the Nazarene in Havre, Montana. Upon moving to Idaho they continued serving at First Church of the Nazarene in Nampa. Orena was a person that quietly worked behind the scenes as a Sunday School teacher and Caravan Leader and in other capacities where she was needed.
Her greatest joy was her family and she prayed for each of her children and grandchildren daily. This led to an amazing prayer support not only for her own family but to her extended family and for those she worshipped with in her church. This was a ministry that continued right up to the time of her passing.
After Gerald’s passing in 1984, Orena started a new career by working at Sunbridge Retirement Center as a hostess in the dining room and a prep cook. She loved the people there and they loved her. She was always their advocate and friend. She always found a way to encourage them and brighten their day. Orena retired from Sunbridge at the age of 80.
Orena was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, her son Rick Cowan, granddaughter Lori Ann Dahl, her parents Elmer and Gladys Murrell, brothers Glenn and Dale and a sister Fern.
She is survived by her four daughters and their spouses, 1 daughter-in-law, 12 very loved grandchildren and 8 adorable great-grandchildren with a 9th to arrive in September. Also, surviving her is her brother Harlan (Olive) Murrell and one brother-in-law Lee (Betty) Cowan and numerous nieces and nephews.
In 1968 they moved from Montana to Nampa Idaho. She was a faithful wife and loving mother. Whose main purpose was to be a mother to each of her children. Her main focus in life was to teach them the importance of a grace filled relationship with God. She provided for her family through her gardening, sewing and her amazing ability to make awesome meals out of the simplest of means. She was an avid reader and loved reading and studying her bible.
Orena was a faithful member of the Church of the Nazarene. She and Gerald helped start the Church of the Nazarene in Havre, Montana. Upon moving to Idaho they continued serving at First Church of the Nazarene in Nampa. Orena was a person that quietly worked behind the scenes as a Sunday School teacher and Caravan Leader and in other capacities where she was needed.
Her greatest joy was her family and she prayed for each of her children and grandchildren daily. This led to an amazing prayer support not only for her own family but to her extended family and for those she worshipped with in her church. This was a ministry that continued right up to the time of her passing.
After Gerald’s passing in 1984, Orena started a new career by working at Sunbridge Retirement Center as a hostess in the dining room and a prep cook. She loved the people there and they loved her. She was always their advocate and friend. She always found a way to encourage them and brighten their day. Orena retired from Sunbridge at the age of 80.
Orena was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, her son Rick Cowan, granddaughter Lori Ann Dahl, her parents Elmer and Gladys Murrell, brothers Glenn and Dale and a sister Fern.
She is survived by her four daughters and their spouses, 1 daughter-in-law, 12 very loved grandchildren and 8 adorable great-grandchildren with a 9th to arrive in September. Also, surviving her is her brother Harlan (Olive) Murrell and one brother-in-law Lee (Betty) Cowan and numerous nieces and nephews.
Orena Verona (Murrell) Cowan was born to Elmer and Gladys Murrell. Orena had 4 siblings – Glen, Fern, Harlan and Dale. She completed elementary and her high school education in Mountain View. After her high school graduation Orena accepted a position as a telephone operator in Willow Springs Missouri. During her high school years one of her best friends was Genevieve Cowan. It was through Genevieve that she met Gerald Cowan. They kept in close contact via many letters during Gerald’s deployment to Germany during World War II. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Orena accepted his proposal and on April 9th 1946 she married Gerald Eugene Cowan. Shortly after they were married they moved from Missouri to Montana. They lived in and around Havre Montana where Gerald worked on the Union Pacific Railroad, worked dry land farming and raised cattle. Together they had 5 children, Carolyn (Loren Dahl), Donna (Don Cronrath), Joyce (Mike Marchbanks), Rick (Deb) Cowan, and Diane (Mart Svaty).
In 1968 they moved from Montana to Nampa Idaho. She was a faithful wife and loving mother. Whose main purpose was to be a mother to each of her children. Her main focus in life was to teach them the importance of a grace filled relationship with God. She provided for her family through her gardening, sewing and her amazing ability to make awesome meals out of the simplest of means. She was an avid reader and loved reading and studying her bible.
Orena was a faithful member of the Church of the Nazarene. She and Gerald helped start the Church of the Nazarene in Havre, Montana. Upon moving to Idaho they continued serving at First Church of the Nazarene in Nampa. Orena was a person that quietly worked behind the scenes as a Sunday School teacher and Caravan Leader and in other capacities where she was needed.
Her greatest joy was her family and she prayed for each of her children and grandchildren daily. This led to an amazing prayer support not only for her own family but to her extended family and for those she worshipped with in her church. This was a ministry that continued right up to the time of her passing.
After Gerald’s passing in 1984, Orena started a new career by working at Sunbridge Retirement Center as a hostess in the dining room and a prep cook. She loved the people there and they loved her. She was always their advocate and friend. She always found a way to encourage them and brighten their day. Orena retired from Sunbridge at the age of 80.
Orena was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, her son Rick Cowan, granddaughter Lori Ann Dahl, her parents Elmer and Gladys Murrell, brothers Glenn and Dale and a sister Fern.
She is survived by her four daughters and their spouses, 1 daughter-in-law, 12 very loved grandchildren and 8 adorable great-grandchildren with a 9th to arrive in September. Also, surviving her is her brother Harlan (Olive) Murrell and one brother-in-law Lee (Betty) Cowan and numerous nieces and nephews.
In 1968 they moved from Montana to Nampa Idaho. She was a faithful wife and loving mother. Whose main purpose was to be a mother to each of her children. Her main focus in life was to teach them the importance of a grace filled relationship with God. She provided for her family through her gardening, sewing and her amazing ability to make awesome meals out of the simplest of means. She was an avid reader and loved reading and studying her bible.
Orena was a faithful member of the Church of the Nazarene. She and Gerald helped start the Church of the Nazarene in Havre, Montana. Upon moving to Idaho they continued serving at First Church of the Nazarene in Nampa. Orena was a person that quietly worked behind the scenes as a Sunday School teacher and Caravan Leader and in other capacities where she was needed.
Her greatest joy was her family and she prayed for each of her children and grandchildren daily. This led to an amazing prayer support not only for her own family but to her extended family and for those she worshipped with in her church. This was a ministry that continued right up to the time of her passing.
After Gerald’s passing in 1984, Orena started a new career by working at Sunbridge Retirement Center as a hostess in the dining room and a prep cook. She loved the people there and they loved her. She was always their advocate and friend. She always found a way to encourage them and brighten their day. Orena retired from Sunbridge at the age of 80.
Orena was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald, her son Rick Cowan, granddaughter Lori Ann Dahl, her parents Elmer and Gladys Murrell, brothers Glenn and Dale and a sister Fern.
She is survived by her four daughters and their spouses, 1 daughter-in-law, 12 very loved grandchildren and 8 adorable great-grandchildren with a 9th to arrive in September. Also, surviving her is her brother Harlan (Olive) Murrell and one brother-in-law Lee (Betty) Cowan and numerous nieces and nephews.
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