Florence Cole Cowan, a long time resident of Salt Lake, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 23, 1993 with her daughter at her side.
Florence was born in Nephi, Utah on August 8, 1903, the daughter of Ellen Elizabeth Cole and Wilford J. Cole. Three years later, Florence and her brothers and sisters went with their parents on a mission to Hawaii where they lived and served for thirteen years. While in Hawaii, her father managed the church's sugar cane plantation. During this period, the Hawaiian temple was built. She was baptized by her father in the Pacific Ocean, in Laie Bay. Florence and her six brothers and sisters attended a little country school in Laie where their classmates and friends were primarily Chinese and Hawaiian children whose parents worked on the plantation.During World War I, at age 16, Florence and her family returned to Nephi where she entered her second year of high school. Florence attended Utah State University, and later the University of Utah. On June 17, 1926, she married Stellman E. Cowan, also of Nephi, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Three years later, their daughter Corene was born.
In 1951 following the marriage of her daughter, Florence returned to the University of Utah at age 48. She completed her bachelors degree with honors, being selected a member of Phi Kappa Phi. She then embarked upon a teaching career in Granite School District where she taught fourth grade for many years. She is remembered as a gifted teacher by countless students whom she loved and influenced, all of whom learned to play the ukulele in a classroom music program that she instituted. Her greatest pleasure was working with children. She served in numerous church callings, including Bonneville Stake Relief Society president.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Stellman, who died September 9, 1987. She is survived by her daughter, Corene (Douglas) Parker of Provo, Utah; seven grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. Six brothers and sisters preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be held at the Yale Ward LDS Chapel, 1431 Gilmer Drive at 12 noon, Monday, December 27. Those wishing to greet the family may come by the chapel one hour preceding the services. Interment will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
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