Terry Cowin

Terry Gail Cowin left this earth peacefully in the arms of Jesus, surrounded by his family and friends, on November 1, 2008, at Hospice Midland Inpatient Unit at Midland Memorial Hospital. Born to Virgil & Albie Horton Cowin in Brownwood, Texas on October 20, 1946, Terry graduated from Brownwood High School in 1965 and entered the military shortly after graduation. He then entered law enforcement at the age of 19 in Brown County and worked throughout Central and West Texas for 37 years, including Midland Police Department and Midland County Sheriff's Department, where he taught the DARE Program at Greenwood Elementary for 4 years. Students at Greenwood Schools in the DARE Program called him PawPaw and gave him a big bear hug every time they saw him. He also served as a Mason. Terry retired from the Midland County Sheriff's Department as a juvenile sergeant on December 31, 2005, due to his illness. Terry was a wonderful advocate to abused and battered children, and was dedicated to changing their lives for the better. He worked many cases where the children did not survive. He never forgot these children and worked hard to find justice for them all. "A hundred hears from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or what kind of car I drove… But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child- Author Unknown.Terry married Edna Tackett Ratto on September 17, 1970, and had a wonderful marriage that lasted 38 years. Terry was a wonderful, caring, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was PawPaw to all of his grandkids and great grandkids and dearly loved them all. Terry was a member of the Cuthbert Avenue Baptist Church in Midland. He is survived by his wife, Edna; three sons, Jason & Valarie Cowin, of Midland, Texas, Russell & Bobbie Ratto, of Bangs, Texas, and Stephen and Shannon Ratto, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; three daughters, Angela Cowin, of Midland, Texas, Paulette & Dick Tongate, of Early, Texas, and Stephanie Boswell, of Brownwood, Texas. He also leaves behind one sister, Evelyn Phillips, of Coleman, Texas; three brothers, Virgil & Shirley Cowin, of Brownwood, Texas, Jerry & Gloria Cowin, of Marlin, Texas, and Travis & Casey Cowin, of Sweetwater, Texas; 10 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and his mother-in-law, Edith Jackson, of Brownwood, Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.Terry was preceded in death by a son, Terry Gail Cowin, Jr; parents, Virgil & Albie Cowin, and father-in-law, Paul Tackett.Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM Tuesday, November 4, 2008, at the First Baptist Church in Midland. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Monday, November 3, 2008 at the funeral home. Additional services will be held at Davis Morris Funeral Home in Brownwood, Texas. Interment will be at the Eastlawn Memorial Park in Brownwood, Texas.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory in Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com,