Betty Cowger

Cowger
Cowger

Betty Brown Cowger, 97, of El Dorado, died peacefully at her home late Wednesday evening, Nov. 13, 2019, with her son Walter Cowger of Dallas, Texas, by her side. She passed away just minutes after listening to her grandchildren, Mollie Cowger of San Francisco, California, and Sam Cowger of Portland, Oregon, tell her over the telephone how much they loved her and what a wonderful grandmother she had been to them.

Betty was born in El Dorado in June 1922, the only child of Walter and Marie Brown. She graduated from El Dorado High School in 1940, attended Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi for a year, and then transferred to the University of Arkansas from which she graduated in 1944 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Betty worked at Root Refinery in El Dorado for several years after college. In November 1948, she married Charles Cowger of El Dorado. They were married almost 58 years, until his death in 2006.

She is survived by her son, Walter, and her grandchildren, Mollie and Sam.

A homemaker, Betty had many interests. She was an avid golfer, accomplished pianist and formidable bridge player. She was active in the First Presbyterian Church of El Dorado, the South Arkansas Arts Center Auxiliary when it ran the restaurant SAAC Lunch, and the Pi Beta Phi sorority, recommending local high school graduates for membership in it well into her 80s.

Betty tutored both children and adults in reading. In addition to Belhaven and The University, she supported the South Arkansas Community College and Foundation, the Haiti Education Foundation, Arkansas Food Bank and the Union County Animal Protection Society (UCAPS).

She traveled widely, both with her women friends and with her husband Charles and his golfing buddies after he retired from Murphy Oil in 1984.

Politically, she was a staunch "yellow dog" Democrat all her life, instilling that in her son and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 57 years, Charles E. Cowger.

Betty was a wise, sweet, gracious woman who was extremely fortunate to live a long and happy life. She will be sorely missed.

Her family would especially like to thank the wonderful ladies who lovingly cared for her for the last several years of her life: Tressie Smart, Sharon Henry, Geraldine Davis, Sharlotte Smith, Denise Lumsey, LaQuita Malone, Doris Lougin, Sandra Chambers, Shelia Thurman and Meshelle Davis

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019 at the First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. David Stipp-Bethune officiating. Serving as pallbearers are Mollie Cowger, Sam Cowger, Cathi Compton, Scott Simpson, Bayless Rowe and Joe Hickey.

The family will receive friends Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 from 5-7 p.m. at Young's Funeral Directors and following the service on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to South Arkansas Community College Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 7010, El Dorado, AR 71730; Haiti Education Foundation, P.O. Box 10775, El Dorado, AR 71730; Arkansas Food Bank, 4301 W. 65th St., Little Rock, AR 72209; or UCAPS, 1000 Sunset Road, El Dorado, AR 71730.

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