Courtney Holt Cowden Jr.

Courtney Holt Cowden, Jr, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and loyal friend passed away on April 21, 2025 after a five-year struggle with Frontotemporal Degeneration. He lived 68 years with his big heart and easy-going personality, which he kept to the very end. He left this world for the next too soon.

Born in Midland, TX, on September 16, 1956 to Margaret and Courtney Cowden, Sr., Holt filled the middle spot of their five children, always smiling. He was baptized at First Presbyterian Church and graduated from Midland High School. Holt lived the life of a Renaissance man, a rancher, a landman, and a founding director of Community National Bank. He returned to school in mid-life and achieved a master’s in physical therapy. He served as a Sunday school teacher, an elder, and a deacon. He was a skilled fly-fisherman, hunter, tap dancer, and “birder”. He kept the Cowden family lore, stories, and genealogy. He knew all the waterways of Texas and could identify every tree. Holt loved and took great pride in his family, his community, and contributed much more than we even knew to causes around the Midland area. Our loss is deeply felt. As a one-of-a-kind man, heaven has no idea what’s coming its way.

Holt leaves behind his beloved wife of 45 years, Kaye; two sons, Courtney, III and Chris; two daughters-in-law, Susan and Mandy; and six grandchildren; Courtney, IV, Abby, Ellie, Catherine, James and Lucy. He is survived by his four siblings, Cynthia (Dave Clark), Price (Nancy), Lynn, and Susan (Kyle Raybourn), his sister-in-law, Caroline, many fun-loving nieces and nephews, and his only surviving aunt, June Cowden.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 29, at 1:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church, Midland, TX. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Holt’s memory to any of the following: The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (https://www.theaftd.org); Manor Park, 5212 Sinclair Ave, Midland, TX 79707;                                                                                 Hospice of Midland (https://hospiceofmidland.org/donate); or First Presbyterian Church, 800 W Texas Ave, Midland, TX 79701.

The family would like to acknowledge Dr. Summer Merritt and the caregivers at Manor Park’s Vogel Center and Cowden Cottage, who cared for Holt since his diagnosis and made his last years ones of comfort and joy.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Courtney Holt Cowden Jr., please visit our Tribute Store.