Calvin Coolidge Cowan

Calvin C. Cowan a long time resident of Las Cruces, New Mexico passed away on March 29, 2022 Calvin was born on December 21, 1928 in Somerset, Colorado to James H & Myfanwy Evans Cowan. Calvin attended public school in Paonia, Colorado, graduating in 1947. He was a US Navy Veteran spending 1946 & 1947 in the pacific theater. Calvin married Frances J. Phillips of Paonia, Colorado on May 28, 1948 in Delta, Colorado. They were married 53 years and remained best friends and companions until her passing September 15, 2001. Calvin's love of photography started as a child, extended to the US Navy where he was a ship's photographer, then he attended Fred Archer's School of Photography in Los Angeles, California in 1950-51. He was employed by the Department of Defense in 1952 and spent the next 37 years working in the Photographic Department at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico until his retirement in 1989. Calvin was a member of the Masonic Fraternity for over 50 years being active in Blue Lodge and York Rite masons. He was a past member of Jornado Lodge #70 Mesilla, NM and a past president of the Las Cruces Shrine Club and Clown unit. Calvin, was preceded in death by his parents James H. and Myfanwy Evans Cowan, his wife of 53 years Frances J. Phillips Cowan, brothers, George T. Cowan, Dorwyn E. Cowan, James T. Cowan, and Sisters Artamus Abseck and Floraine Buckley. He is survived by his son Donald M. Cowan and wife Andrea, of Las Cruces, NM, daughters, Chella C. Gottsponer and husband Gary of Las Cruces, NM and Margo R. Morris and husband Robert of Lexingon, TX. Granddaughters Deirdre J. Rice and husband James of Gloucester, VA, Heather B. Cowan and husband Shawn Fricke of Albuquerque, NM, Kristi L. Gottsponer, of Las Cruces, NM, Brigit C. Smiley and husband Lake of Kingston, OK, Grandson Joshua A. Morris of Lexington, TX, Great Granddaughter Hannah N. Rice and Great-grandsons, Jonathan J. Rice, Morgan W. Smiley, Finn A. Cowan-Fricke, Latham C. Smiley, and Hudson C. Cowan-Fricke, as well as many nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 10am, Getz Funeral Home, 1410 E Bowman Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88001 and interment will be at a later date in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Paonia, Colorado. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to your favorite charity or to the Shrine Hospital, 3160 Geneva Street. Los Angeles, CA 90020-1199