Gary Ray Cowan

None Gary Ray Cowan Gary, age 80, passed away August 17, 2012 in Olympia, Washington. He had lived in the Olympia area for more than 25 years, the last 10 months of which were at Woodland Retirement in Lacey. He was born September 20, 1931 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Ray and Esther (Greenberg) Cowan. Gary served in the US Army in Korea (HQ Company BNERTC), receiving the Korean Service medal with three bronze service stars, Commendation medal, UM Service medal, and National Defense Service medal. He achieved the rank of Master Sergeant and was discharged December 9, 1953. Returning to college, Gary earned a BS in Economics/Statistics from the University of Utah, where he also did post graduate studies. He married Barbara Haslam in 1954 in Salt Lake City. After her death, he married Ruth Ann Spencer on April 19, 1991 in Olympia. Professionally, Gary was Manager of Statistical Analysis for Washington State Department of Transportation, and a senior tax preparer for H&R Block & Company. He loved camping and hiking in the mountains, flying kites, stamp collecting, classical music, crossword puzzles, mystery stories and solitaire. He was a member of the Masterworks Chorale in Olympia and the Seattle Symphony Chorale, sang in the choir at St. John’s Episcopal Church (where he was a member), and played the kazoo. Gary was a shy, quiet person. One Christmas, he was assigned to play the kazoo at a program. He missed the first cue and came in late on the second; everyone laughed. Another time, he caught his foot in a rope loop attached to the garage door, opened the garage door, and was left hanging from his left foot; after that, he spent the next four hours in the emergency room. Gary is survived by his wife, Ruth; son, John Cowan of Oxford, Iowa; brother, Richard Cowan of Beaver Creek, Ohio; and sister, Barbara Cowan Christenson of West Valley City, Utah. He was preceded in death by his parents Ray and Esther Cowan; brother, David Cowan; former wife, Barbara Haslam; and son, Kelly Ray Cowan. Memorial donations may be made to local Humane Societies.