Meri-Beth Anne Cowles

Meri-Beth A Cowles, age 71 of Clare, passed away at her home on Thursday, June 15, 2023. Born Meri-Beth Anne Williams to Roth Williams and Jeanne Davis Williams on August 26, 1951, the youngest of several children to them, but only 3 that survived. She grew up on a farm on Athey Rd where she first attended "country school" not far from where she lived and then started City school in Clare. She loved sheep all her life, she remembered milking cows and toted her first lamb around on a rope cord! She did attend one semester of community college at Mid-Michigan where she wanted to study zoology, but instead met the love of her life, James David Cowles. She challenged him to a drag race, in her brother's souped-up car, and there are many stories of why he never made it but she won by default that night! He proposed to her on Halloween and they never looked back! They were wed on January 31st, 1970, honeymooned in Niagara Falls, and started their lives together. Meri-Beth loved life! She loved being active and she was a rebel and a fighter! She fought for her Vietnam Veteran husband when many gave up on them and got him his settlement that they lived out his last years on. She was a crafter, she sewed, she knit, she dyed wool and spun it! She was known as the kool aid lady in spinning circles! She cooked, she canned, she froze her own food. She taught all her children how to do all of these things! She embroidered, she did artex paints, and she wove baskets. She was a devout Baptist who taught Sunday school at Bethany Baptist Church. The one thing she couldn't do was carry a tune to save herself! She leaves behind her children, Tamara Dawn Cowles, Theodore Dan Cowles, Johnathan Roth Cowles, and Bria Jeanne Blair, and adopted daughter Ashley Kathleen Wilds. Her daughter-in-law Cynthia Susan Cowles and son-in-law Bradford Gerald Blair. Grandchildren Heather Ann Cowles, Johnathan James Cowles, Emily Jeanne Cowles, Anthony Michael Cowles, Justin Johnathan Fields, Delduca Lowry, Olivia Jean Cowles, Meri Jane Cowles, adopted grandsons Jack Harry Wilds and Levi Alexander Wilds (her birthday buddy), and great grandson Tobias James Bodrie and as yet unnamed great granddaughter. She is preceded in death by her parents, Roth and Jeanne Williams, both brothers Robert and Larry Williams, her nephew James Williams, her son Montie Lee Cowles as well as her husband, James David Cowles, all of whom were waiting for her in Heaven! She leaves a legacy of love and hope and light! A funeral service in honor of Meri-Beth will take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at the Clare Chapel of the Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home at 1:00 P.M. with burial following in the Arthur Township Cemetery. Friends may visit with the Cowles family at the funeral home on Wednesday, June 21st from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Memorial contributions in honor of Meri-Beth may be directed to the Paralyzed Veterans of America. For those unable to attend services, online condolences may be shared at www.stephenson-wyman.com

Meri-Beth Anne Cowles

August 26, 1951 - June 15, 2023