Nona Mae Cowan was born in Konawa, OK on May 15, 1929 to Jesse and Stella (Davenport) Cowan. She attended schools in Ada and graduated from Putnam City High School in OKC in 1947 where she was active in band and basketball. She also worked with her father and other family members at Cowan Printing Co., which her father started in 1947. After graduating from Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha in 1952, she went to Bangalore, South India as a special missionary with the Methodist Church. She taught Physical Education and other courses at Baldwin Girl's School. Upon returning to OKC, Nona became a physical education instructor at Classen High School and transferred to Northwest Classen when it first opened. In 1958 she went back to college to pursue a degree in Guidance & Counseling, earning a Masters in Education at the University of OK. Following graduation, she became Dean of Women at East Central State College, Ada, OK. From Ada she went to Nashville, TN where she taught physical education and also did counseling. She attended Vanderbilt University, Peabody, TN A&I, Fisk University, and the Univ. of TN after being awarded federal grants to further her education in assisting secondary students in their pursuits-which was her first love. Returning to Okla. City in 1964 she became a part of the Putnam City School System as a counselor at the 'original' and at P.C. North. She retired after 18 years in the Putnam City System, due to health. She was a member of Metro Church/Life Church for years where she found many friends. Nona was best known for being positive, full of faith and love for everyone. She had a ready smile and good things to say to those she met. She was predeceased by her parents and a sister. She is survived by two brothers, Phillip, OKC, and Duane & wife Lois, Tulsa, and their families. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 4, 2003, at Mercer-Adams Funeral Service, Bethany, OK, with interment at Hillside Cemetery, Purcell, OK. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mercy Ministry at New Life Church. MERCER-ADAMS
Published in the Oklahoman on 8/3/2003.
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