Larry Walter Cowden

Larry graduated from Belleville West High School in 1991. He was self-employed at his company, Larry’s Courier. He enjoyed cooking and loved the Sci-Fi genre, especially Star Wars. His favorite Star Wars character was Boba Fett and his favorite band was Huey Lewis and the News. He enjoyed computers, role playing games, and collecting movies. Larry really excelled in his role as a father and step-father; he always lived for spending time with his family. He was a kind, loving, and generous man who will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

He is preceded in death by his step-son, Caleb M. Taylor, aka “Lil Larry;” aunt-in-law Gyongyi Cowden, and uncle-in-law Elmer Heilman.

He is survived by his loving girlfriend, Jennifer Taylor (nee Hamblin); his son Gabriel Cowden; step-children Daniel, Tobie, Jordan and Adam (CiCi) Taylor; grandchildren Lillian and Layla Taylor; mother-in-law Janice (Kenneth Abbott) Hamblin; father Patrick R. Cowden Sr. of Byrnes Mill, MO; mother Kathy (Harry) Tyas of Tilton, IL; brother Patrick R. (Allison) Cowden Jr. and their children: Chris (Allison) and Matthew of Belleville, IL; half-brother, David (Anne) Tyas and their children: Lucas, Charleigh and Gabriel of Catlin, IL; half-sister Dawn (Chris) Tyas and their children: Kaitlynn, Isabella and Elizabeth of Waynesville, MO; half-brother Tony Cowden of Cresthill, IL; half-sister Heather Cowden of Palatine, IL; half-brother Todd Cowden of Belleville, IL; uncle Mike Cowden of NM; aunt Barbara Heilman of NC; cousins Mike Cowden, Kathy Heilman, Adam Heilman, Shelly Shipley and Todd Simmons; best friend “uncle” Scott Kuehn; “aunt” Amanda Wright and daughter Alexis; “aunt” Lauren Semple and daughters Malory Gordon, Audrianna and Lily Martin.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to the family for his son’s scholarship fund.