Mabel Gladys (Sharp) Cowan, 96, of Green Castle, Missouri, passed away Saturday (June 28, 2014) at Sullivan County Memorial Hospital in Milan, Missouri.

The daughter of Cecil Duane and Mattie Francis (Lewis) Sharp, she was born October 30, 1917 in Stahl, Missouri. On November 30, 1932, Mabel was united in marriage to Ernest E. Cowan who preceded her in death on May 12, 1977.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Donald Cowan and Arnold “Bud” Cowan, and one grandson, James Cowan.

Mabel is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Harold Sandretto of Green Castle, MO; one sister, Lola Blackorby of Novinger, MO; two daughters-in-law, Maxine Cowan of Macon, MO and Kay Cowan of Green Castle, MO; two nephews, Lavern and Gary Blackorby; 10 grandchildren, Rick Cowan, Aaron Payne, Tracy Cowan, Doug Cowan, Randy Cowan, Sherry Cowan, Lisa (Cowan) Stone, Darrin Sandretto, and Danette (Sandretto) Nickell.; 14 great-grandchildren, Season (Cowan) Hansen, Nathan Dodson, Bethany (Dodson) Mountjoy, Caleb Dodson, Whitley Sandretto, Nash DeJesus, Melissa Stone, Wesley Stone, Ava Grace and Sophia Cowan, and Spencer, Amanda and Chandler Payne, and three great great-grandchildren, Neveah and Revekah Hansen and Nora Mountjoy. She was also survived by several step great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren, Jason Thompson and daughters Cassidy and Katie, Kellie (Thompson) Jones and children, Tysen and Nodia, Jasmine (Nickell) Cheap and sons Zander and Kyan, Jake Nickell and children Dylan, Eric, Jayce, Jole, Khloe, Maggie, Josh, Eli and Kasen Eisenmann, Jake and Cassie Eisenmann. She is also survived by others who were important to her, Sandra Sharp, Vickie and Ralph Steele and Dixie Steen and Jason Knipp.

Mabel attended Shibley’s Point School. She started working at Novinger R-I School in the late 50’s, as a cook with best friend Cleone Stidmon. Later she began working at McGraw Edison and Hollisters before retiring.

Mabel was a wonderful cook and enjoyed feeding people. She loved gardening and canning what she raised. She spent most of her life in the Shibley’s Point community, with the exception of some years spent in Putnam County after she and Ernest were married. Recently she moved to Milan Long Term Care, where she made many new friends. Mabel loved spending time with family and friends.

She was a member of the Shibley’s Point Extension Club and a member of the Novinger Baptist Church.

Public visitation will be held Tuesday (July 1, 2014) with family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday (July 2, 2014) at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, with Pastor Darrell Crooks officiating. Music will be provided by Twila Jones, Dianthe Cable, Vicky Steele and Sandi Sharp. Interment will follow the service at Lone Pine Cemetery near Martinstown, Missouri.

Pallbearers will be Doug Cowan, Rick Cowan, Darrin Sandretto, Nathan Dodson, Caleb Dodson and Eric Nickell. Honorary pallbearers will be Nash DeJesus, Dan Hansen, Jason Knipp, Ralph Steele, Lavern Blackorby, Gary Blackorby and Tracy Cowan.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mabel Cowan may be made to Novinger Baptist Church. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.