Grace Cowles

Grace Alberta Cowles, 99, Topeka, passed away Sunday, September 11, 2016 at a Brewster Place.

Alberta was born July 4, 1917 on a farm southeast of Lawrence, the daughter of Albert and Grace Hadl. She attended Belleview Grade School, and Eudora High School, often driving a Model T Ford Coup to school. During the summers she was involved in 4-H work, especially with her younger sisters, Wanda and Jane.

She received a Teaching Certificate from Emporia State Teachers College and taught 4 years in the Lawrence-Douglas county area: 3 years were in a one room school named Apple Pie located near Lone Star; and the 4th year at a school named Blue Mound.

Alberta married Ernest Cowles on August 19, 1939. After marriage, they lived in the Linwood, Lawrence, Paola/Osawatomie areas and Topeka. In the farming community of Plum Creek between Paola and Osawatomie KS, she was a 4-H project and community leader and also coached her children in many projects, talks, and demonstrations - guiding them to numerous blue and championship ribbons plus each of them to being high school class valedictorians.

Always considering herself a teacher, she was a graduate of the Menninger Bible Course and taught church school for 10 years at Plum Creek Methodist Church. In 1963 the family moved to Topeka and she became interested in art and painting. She participated in numerous shows winning honors for her oil paintings and was a member of the Topeka Art Guild and Artists Associated of Topeka, and through her love of the outdoors, the Wayside Garden Club.

Ernest and Alberta were married for 67 years until his death on January 12, 2006. In addition, she was preceded in death by daughter, Ellen Marie Dollar; sisters Wanda Jones and Jane Thorn; and a grandson, Donald Dollar Jr.. Survivors include son, Robert Cowles, Redwood City, CA; grandchildren Michael Dollar, Stephanie Cowles, and Alexander Cowles; and 3 great-grandchildren plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1 PM on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Ave, Topeka, KS. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence at 4 PM. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Those attending the services can honor her love of art and the outdoors by wearing summer and fall colors.

Memorial contributions may be made to Northland Christian Church, 3102 NW Topeka Blvd,, Topeka, KS 66617; Central Park Christian Church, 1535 SW Clay, Topeka, KS 66604; or Topeka Rescue Mission, PO Box 8350,Topeka, KS 66608.

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