Pat Cowley

GALVA - Pat Cowley, 69, of Galva, died at 6:12 AM, Saturday, August 22, 2015 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Tuesday August 25 at St. John Catholic Church in Galva. Celebrant will be Fr. John Burns. Visitation will be held from 4:00-5:30 PM, Monday, August 24 at Rux Funeral Home in Galva with a rosary being recited at 4:00 PM. Burial will be in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kewanee. Memorials may be directed to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, St. John Catholic Church or the Henry County Humane Society.

She was born on May 12, 1946 in Kewanee, the daughter of Raymond T. and Norine E. (Spiegel) Smith. She had married James I. Cowley on October 15, 1966 and they had divorced on February 1, 1990. She is survived by an aunt, Shirley Rodgers of Marceline, MO and several cousins. She is also survived by special children of her long time companion, Willie Stewart, who preceded her in death on July 21, 2015, Brent (Melissa) Stewart, Cindy (Tom) Nash and grandchildren, Andrew Stewart and fiancAC.e, Brittany Rose, Austin Stewart, Karissa Nash and her fiancAC., Derek Haptonstall, Clayton Nash and a great granddaughter, Ivie. In addition to her friend and companion Willie Stewart of almost 25 years, she was also preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Terrance William and two sisters, Margaret Agnes and Shirine Marie.

Pat graduated from Galva High School in 1964. She had attended St. Francis School of Nursing in Peoria and had graduated from Hi-Fashion Beauty College in Peoria in 1966. She had also completed a course as a veterinarian assistant from NACS in Scranton, PA. She had worked as a hairdresser for 35 years in Galva working at His & Hers and for Rux Funeral Home. She had also worked on the family farm with her Dad and husband, Jim and continued to manage the farm after the death of her parents. She was a member of St. John Catholic Church and the Altar and Rosary and had been a money counter for many years and had served on the parish council. She enjoyed the company of her friends, following Willie's grandchildren, sewing, carpenter work and working with animals and trail riding.

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