Cenith Delane Cowing, 88, passed away Thursday, November 23, 2023 at her family home in Clay Center, KS after a long battle with Parkinson’s dementia. Cenith was born on February 27, 1935 on the family farm near Lucas, KS, the last child of 10 children born to Everett and Myra Wood. She attended Downs High School. She met and married John Leonard (Bunky) Cowing. They made their home together in Clay Center for 71 years.
Cenith was a seamstress and homemaker while raising her family, later working at Presbyterian Manor as a cook before joining her husband and son in running Cowing’s Antiques in downtown Clay Center for many, many years. Cenith was also very involved in her church and women’s groups, teaching Sunday School and VBS for decades at Clay Center Christian Church.
Cenith was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She loved babysitting and doing things with her “grands”: Kathy’s Jeremy and Carrie, Robin’s Sarah and Jonathan, and Gina’s Nathan, Gabrielle and Micah. Her “greats” were also a tremendous joy and delight for her when they came along: Jeremy and Karla’s Emilee and Aiden, Carrie’s Gavin and J.T., Nathan and Nicole’s Emmett and Conrad. Nothing seemed to please her more than a baby to hold or a little one to entertain, even in her final months.
Throughout her life Cenith also especially enjoyed homemaking, sewing, reading, daily crosswords, Sunday drives, card parties, vacationing with family, making every holiday special, family reunions, anything to do with angels (especially guardian angel pictures with children), teaching children about Jesus, and any and every opportunity to spend time with family and friends.
Cenith was preceded in death by her parents, her son Sam, her half-siblings Pat, Mike, Evelyn and Pauline, brothers Doyle, Norris, Olin, Orin, Arven, and a sister, Carol Rogers.
Survivors include her husband John, brothers Loy Wood of KC, MO and Arden Wood of Weymouth, MA, sister Sally Cooper of Osborne, KS, daughters Kathy (Roy) Sweet of Clay Center, Robin Butterworth of Glenpool, OK, and Gina (Don) Burman of Lawrence, KS. She will also be dearly missed by grandchildren Jeremy and Karla Sweet of Clay Center, Carrie Alton of Clay Center, Sarah Butterworth of Glenpool, OK, Jonathan Stidman, Tulsa,OK, Nathan and Nicole Burman, KC, MO, Gabrielle Burman, Dallas, TX and Micah Burman, NYC, NY, her great-grandchildren Emilee, Aiden, Gavin, J.T., Emmett and Conrad, as well as countless other relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held Friday, Dec. 1 at 1:00 p.m. at Clay Center Christian Church, 1021 Crawford St. This service will be immediately followed by a short graveside service at Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center, KS.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to Clay Center Christian Church or Green Christian School in care of Neil-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home, 918 7th St. Clay Center, KS 67432.
Online condolences may be made at www.nsrfh.com
