Shirley Ann Cowen

Shirley Ann (Baze) Cowen, aged 85 of San Antonio, TX, passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2025. She is survived by her son, Carl Wayne Cowen and wife, Amy of Northbridge, MA and her daughter, Stacy Lynn (Cowen) Burgh and husband, Steven of Spring Branch, TX; her brothers, Michael Baze of Celina, TX and Timothy Baze of McPherson, KS; her grandson, Kyle Burgh and granddaughters, Katelyn Burgh and Sarah Cowen. She is preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Edward Cowen and her parents, John D. Milton Baze and Irene Mae (Davis) Baze. Shirley was born and raised in Parsons, KS, as was her husband. She graduated from Pittsburg State University (PSU) in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a major in Biology and a minor in Physical Science. She also earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education from PSU in 1981. Shirley and Wayne were married for fifty years before Wayne’s death in 2012. Shirley was an educator throughout most of her professional life, with one of her most interesting positions being a special education teacher at Adak Region Schools in Alaska. A lover of German shepherd dogs, she was the impetus behind the beloved dogs of the Cowen family - “Buff”, “Cannon”, and “Schoff.” 

Visitation will be Tuesday, March 11, 2025 between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM at the Schertz Funeral Home, 2217 FM 3009, Schertz, TX 78154. Shirley will be interred at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with a graveside service to begin at 2:30 pm. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Shirley’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org or to the German Shepherd Rescue of New England, Inc. at gsrne.org.