Walter Cowart, Jr.

Walter Cleveland Cowart, Jr., age 85, died Sunday, December 21, 2008, at his residence surrounded by his family. Born in Mexico, Missouri, he was the son of the late Walter Cleveland and Louise Morrill Cowart. He was preceded in death by a brother, David Morrill Cowart. He retired from Champion International with more than 45 years of service, and was a United States Navy veteran serving in World War II. Walter loved working with his hands, and his joy was in attention to detail. His latest project was building lap harps. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Louise Cannon Cowart of Canton; five children, Pamela Cowart Rickman and her husband, Marvin, of Rock Hill, MD; Julia Cowart of Johnson City, TN, Walter Cowart, III and his wife, Lynne, of Knoxville, TN, Helen Mary Cowart of Canton, and Jamie Cowart Newport and her husband, Brad, of Mercury, France; one sister, Nancy Deane Cowart Sims of Atlanta, GA; and 9 grandchildren. No services are planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721