Marie C. Cowen
courtesy photo
Marie Cowen
RONAN – Marie was born in St. Ignatius on Nov. 5, 1927, and died at home of natural causes on Nov. 28, 2016. She was a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Marie was the person who started the holiday dinners in Ronan back in 1997. She served both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at her café in Ronan. Later on, she worked at the Ronan Tribal Senior Center and the White Center until she retired. She was known as the Teddy Bear Lady.
Her parents, Albert and Philomana Trahan, preceded her in death; also, her siblings Willis, Luke, Sydney, Elizabeth, Lorina and Tessie Trahan; and two children, Diana Kehoe and John Orr.
Marie’s sisters, Eileen Quist and Theresa Morigeau; and brother, Hank Trahan survive her. She is also survived by her three children, Patsy Miller, Janet Enos and Bill Kehoe; and her grandchildren, Timothy, Dana, Shane, Danielle, Marcy, Laneil, Amber, Bo, Theo and Duncan. Numerous nieces and nephews and great-grandchildren also survive her.
The family would like to thank Rachel Phelps for her services as a caregiver for Marie Cowen.
There will be a potluck memorial dinner for Marie at the Ronan Tribal Senior Center on Dec. 10, 2016, at noon. The meat will be provided.
