Jan Dale Cowan

Jan Dale Cowan, beloved husband, father, grandfather, neighbor, and friend was called home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 3, 2019.  He and his twin sister, Mary Gail Cowan Leming, were born on July 5, 1936 in Lampasas County, Texas to George Dee and Pauline Vardiman Cowan.  Jan grew up in and around the communities of Topsey, Evant, Killeen, Oakalla, and Briggs, Texas.  On June 4, 1966 he married Linda Esther Hopkins.  Four children were born to this union:  Clarissa “Lisa” Lynn Cowan Kepner, Janna Kaye Cowan Styles, Bradley Dale Cowan, and Christopher Lindale Cowan.  As a young man, Jan did farm and ranch work and construction.  In 1976 he was hired by what would become the R&J Ranch in Briggs.  He would remain there even after the ranch was sold and became the G Bar M.  Jan made many friends at the R&J and loved his work there.  He reminisced about those years often.  For the past 20 years, Jan and his wife Linda have raised a large garden and have sold at area farmers’ markets and at their stand, Cowans’ Market, on the loop in “downtown” Briggs.  Jan loved his garden.  He loved growing things and he loved the people that the he met while selling at farmers’ markets and at their “veggie stand.”  He enjoyed fishing whenever he could and he collected rocks of various shapes that he found interesting at home and on all his travels.  Jan was a skilled rock mason and he completed his entire home with rock that he had collected himself.  Jan loved Jesus and he loved people.  He showed Christ’s love to everyone he met in a way you could see and sense.  He always saw the absolute best in everyone he met.  He loved his family and would often speak with a sense of awe about how he was blessed by his family, especially his grandchildren.  His gratefulness for every little thing, his ability to see beauty in all of God’s creation, and his constant encouragement, will be deeply missed.  Jan was a faithful member of Briggs Baptist Church since March of 1971.  He was ordained as a deacon at Oakalla Baptist Church in February of 1964 and served as a deacon at Briggs Baptist Church from May 1971 until his death.  He loved and was loved dearly by his church family.  Jan was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers; Tommy, Kendall, Gene, Noel, and Paul Cowan. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Linda Cowan; four children, Clarissa “Lisa” Lynn Kepner and husband Ed of Briggs, Janna Kaye Styles and husband Dave, of Hutto, Brad Cowan and wife Ann of Bertram, and Christopher Cowan, of Briggs, his twin sister, Mary Gail Cowan Leming and husband Sam of Buda, Texas and grandchildren, Jordan Lopez, Joshua Teegardin, MaKayla Lopez, Matthew Kepner, Luke Kepner, Marah Lopez, Nash Cowan, Nate Cowan, and Mylah Lopez as well as a large extended family.  In lieu of flowers you may contribute to the Briggs Baptist Church Benevolence Fund.  Funeral is Monday July 8, 2019 at 10 am at Baptist Church in Briggs. Burial in Dillingham Cemetery.