April 29, 1929 – Sept. 15, 2022
Longtime area resident Jim McCowan died peacefully at home on Sept. 15 of age-related causes. He was 93.
He was born April 29, 1929 to Alabama sharecroppers Leo McCowan and Annie Louise (Puckett) McCowan. A self-described roller-rink rat, Jim also played high school football and baseball.
Just after getting his Army draft notice, Jim met Louise Bennett at a Morris, Ala.. skating rink. They courted by letter and eloped when he came home on leave in June 1951. He called Louise the best gift he ever received.
Jim was a radio operator with the Army Corps of Engineers in Kansas during construction of flood control measures on the Missouri River.
Son Joel was born in 1953 in Indiana. Daughter Cindy was born in Florence in 1958.
Shortly after moving to Oregon, Jim was asked if he wanted to work as a log scaler. He replied, “Sure – what’s that?”
He proved gifted at estimating board feet of timber in raw logs. He later worked as a timber cruiser and timber manager using his ability to estimate the value of acres of standing timber.
Despite never attending college, he patented a process to isolate and repurpose usable sawdust fiber for paper products.
Jim was immensely proud of his children, cheering their sports and musical activities at Junction City High School. It was important to him that they earn college degrees and he was delighted when both did so at Oregon State. He loved watching Joel pitch for the Beavers and hearing Cindy sing with the OSU Choir.
Jim and Louise were longtime members at Shadow Hills Country Club, where he twice made holes-in-one. They attended Junction City First Christian Church and later Northwood Christian Church in Springfield.
Jim is survived by his wife, Louise, of Eugene; son Joel (Karen) McCowan of Springfield and daughter Cindy (Allan) Mair of Gresham; brother-in-law Jim (Kathleen) Bennett of Dayton; four granddaughters and four great-granddaughters.
A life celebration is planned at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 at Northwood Christian Church, 2425 Harvest Lane, Springfield. All who knew him are welcome.
Jim’s family is grateful to Cascade Hospice and his night caregiver for making Jim’s last two months of life so comfortable. In lieu of flowers, please consider gifts in his memory to Cascade Hospice or Northwood Christian Church Building Fund.
