Kern County Obituaries

Bernice Cowgill

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; Date Unknown

Dec. 23, 1910 � Aug. 18, 2004
Bernice Sloan Cowgill died early in the morning on Aug. 18. Bernice was a 
remarkable woman. She was born on Dec. 23, 1910 in Huron, Kan. During 
Bernice's early school years she and her parents Boyd and Nettie Sloan 
lived in Kansas City and St. Joseph, Mo. 

After attending business school, Bernice worked five years at A.H. Jones, 
a car dealership in Hastings, Neb. As the bookkeeper, it was her job to 
take the bank deposits to a local bank. There, she always made sure that 
she was at the window of the handsome teller, George Edward Cowgill. 
Eventually, George asked her if she would like to go to church with him. 
It was love at first sight and they dated for five years. They were 
married July 11, 1933 at the Presbyterian Church in Hastings.

Bernice and George had one daughter, Barbara Carlson Smith, born on July 2,
1936. Two years later they moved to the Wilshire area of Los Angeles and 
George pursued his career with Bank of America, becoming manager of the L.A. 
International Office and Vice President-Manager at the Burbank office of Bank 
of America.

From that very first date, church has been the foundation of their spiritual 
life and social life. George was a deacon at Immanuel Presbyterian Church 
on Wilshire Blvd. Bernice was the official wedding hostess and on the staff 
for 10 years as secretary to the senior minister.

In 1959, Bernice and George moved to Burbank and rapidly became involved in 
the community and social life. They were members of Oakmont Country Club. 
Bernice continued her love of bridge and made many friends in the local chapter 
of PEO, later becoming president. Bernice was a member of Chapter IW, PEO 
in Bakersfield when she died.

Bernice and George retired in 1980 and moved to Bear Valley Springs. They were 
introduced to the area by George's brother and sister-in-law, Howard and Pat 
Cowgill. Once again they were actively involved in creating the Bear Valley 
Community Church, as two of a handful of people that met in the card room of 
Oak Tree Country Club and later at the Whiting Center.

Bernice loved to play bridge and spent many happy hours in the card room at 
OTCC and as an active member of the women's club. She also remained active with 
PEO and the Bear Valley Community Church. 

Bernice was gifted in sewing and made beautiful quilts entirely by hand for her 
daughter and each granddaughter. Bernice loved to entertain and had a wonderful, 
musical laugh and a great sense of humor. 

After her husband's death in 1990, she remained in Bear Valley for five years. 
She moved to Houston, Texas to be with her daughter, Barbara Smith and son-in-law 
Gene Smith. After seven years, Bernice happily returned to her home in BVS and 
lived there with Barbara and Gene for two years.

NOTE: Photo At: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htmphotos/kern/