Gwen Shepherd Cowan

Gwen Shepherd Cowan danced into the arms of her beloved husband Bill on the morning of September 29th, 2026, at the age of 97. After 15 years apart, they are finally dancing together again.

Gwen was born June 29th, 1929, in Levan, Utah — the greatest little town in America — to John D. and Gertrude S. Shepherd. She graduated from Juab High School in 1947 and was the middle child of eight — the glue that held them all together. Fiercely loyal and endlessly proud of every one of them.

She married the love of her life, William "Bill" Cowan, on August 7th, 1947, later solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple. They raised three children — Glen, Tony, and Peggy — and built a life across Fillmore, Dugway, and settling in Nephi. Gwen was very proud of all her family’s military service. She was fiercely patriotic, and proud of her own work in the military kitchen at Dugway.

She learned her cooking from her mother in Levan and became famous for her pies at Cowan's Cafe on Main Street in Nephi, where she and Bill also ran Bill's Chevron. She was an incredible cook — everyone loved her haystacks, applesauce cookies, Kentucky chili, creamed corn, potato salad and all her delicious cakes. She made everything with the special ingredient – Love.

Gwen loved to play dominoes and pinochle, and she loved bowling with her golden bowling ball. She was an avid crafter, and she came from the generation that fixed things before throwing them away — she'd try anything to mend something before letting it go.

She was a proud member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and she loved being a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, where she treasured the friendships she found there.

She loved her kids and her grandchildren, and was a big supporter of anything they were involved in. She was the center hub of her family — the one who made sure everyone was taken care of.

She is preceded in death by her sweetheart, Bill Cowan; her mother and father; her siblings Gerald (Rhea) Shepherd, Rayola (Jack) Thorn, John (Louise) Shepherd, Willis (Joyce) Shepherd, Joann (Don) Adams, Margene Miller, and Roger Shepherd; a great-grandson, Cade C. Smith; and sisters-in-law Marge (Raymond) Peterson, and Bonnie (Wendell) Olson. Now she's joining them all — the gang is back together at the Shepherd family reunion.

She is survived by her son, Glen E. Cowan; Tony (Melanie) Cowan; Peggy (Alex) Johnson; brother-in-law David Miller; 13 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and 5 great-great- grandchildren.

Although she was very proud of her family, we are even more proud and grateful to have had her be our mother and grandma. Save a spot on the porch for us, we love you toots!

Funeral services will be held Friday October 9, 2026 at 1:00 pm with a viewing from 12:00 - 12:45 at the 5th ward church, 351 E 500 N, Nephi. There will be a viewing Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 at the Anderson Funeral Home, 94 W 300 N, Nephi.