Sue Cave Cowan Shamburger

Sue Cave Cowan Shamburger, age 89, was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend. She passed away peacefully in her sleep from complications of Parkinson’s Disease on April 1, 2022.

Sue was born in Hobbs, Texas on December 23, 1932 to W.D. and Velma Cave. She and her twin sister Lue had four older siblings, Elsie, Rink, John (Son) and Jimmy T. They moved to Jayton, Texas at the age of 8 and attended Jayton schools where she excelled in basketball and graduated in 1951.

Sue met Johnny Mack Cowan on a blind date and were married on June 16, 1951 in Abilene, Texas. They had a wonderful life together for almost 50 years when he passed away in April of 2001. Johnny began working for the Texas Department of Public Safety in 1958 and thus began a journey of moving from place to place as he was promoted. Sue loved moving to new places in Texas which included Pampa, Lubbock, Pecos, Ft. Worth, Abilene and finally settling in Austin in 1977.

Sue worked for the state of Texas for many years beginning at the Abilene State School MHMR and continuing for many years at the Austin State School retiring as a supervisor in 1992.

When Sue retired from the state, she began her own business of owning and driving a snow cone/ice cream truck called Hill Country Ice. She loved driving around and making children happy as she delivered treats to many neighborhoods in South Austin and Oak Hill. She sold the business after the death of Johnny in 2001.

Sue loved to travel, go fishing, play Bridge, was an avid bowler (bowling 200+ games), loved Nintendo games and Candy Crush, raising pet chickens and her beloved dogs as well as spending time with family and friends. Sue was an excellent seamstress sewing most of her daughter’s school clothes and many costumes for the grandchildren. She also loved to quilt and crochet making each grandchild a special quilt when they were born. She went on many cruises and vacations with family and friends until a very special person joined her travels and adventures in 2007.

Sue married Gene Shamburger on April 14, 2007. This was the beginning of nonstop fun for both of them. They loved going on cruises, fishing trips, visiting family and friends and Sue was able to visit all 50 states with the first being Texas and the last was North Dakota in 2016. She was also a world traveler and visited many countries and continents including Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Central and South America as well as many of the Caribbean Islands.

Sue and Gene were the life of the party and always surrounded by family and friends. Gene was the perfect companion (he would even bait her hook when they went fishing) and she relied on his strength and energy especially the past few years. The family will always be eternally grateful for the love and companionship Gene provided for Sue.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, siblings and first husband.

Sue is survived by her husband Gene of Austin, son Mack Cowan and his wife Debbie of Georgetown, son Mark Cowan and his wife Gay Lynn of Driftwood, daughter Melessa Cowan of Austin, stepson Paul Shamburger and his wife Heather of Winter Garden, Florida and stepdaughter Lara McPhail and her husband Dave of Pearland, Tx. Sue was a member of Southwest Church of Christ in Austin where she had many friends and loved ones.

Sue had four wonderful grandchildren and inherited four more when she married Gene. She also had five great grandchildren with another on the way. Her grandchildren are Casey Nichols and her husband Matt and their daughter, Rory. Bradley Cowan and his wife Stacie and their two daughters, Anna and Emma (baby Lyla will arrive in September). Taylor Cowan and his wife Cheryl. Van Cowan and his wife Hannah and their two children, Birdie and Fox. The inherited and much loved grandchildren are Megan and Paige McPhail and Ashlei Kleemann and Devin Shamburger. She is survived by many beloved nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.

There will be a celebration of life for Sue on Monday, April 18, 2022 from 4:00-6:00 pm at Cook Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home at 6300 W William Cannon Drive in Austin, Texas 78749.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Sue's memory may be made to Southwest School of Bible Studies, https://www.swsbs.edu/; and Hospice Austin, https://www.hospiceaustin.org/get-involved/donate/.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com for the Shamburger family.