Anne Genevieve Cina

Anne Genevieve Cowley Cina, 64, of Harker Heights, Texas, passed away on Monday, July 24. A celebration of her life will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Killeen, Texas, with Pastor Randall Wallace officiating. A visitation will be held before the service at 10:30.

Anne began life September 27, 1952 in Freer, Texas, the third of four children born to Harold and Dreena Cowley. She graduated from Freer High School and graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Art Education. For 34 years she taught middle school students in Killeen where she instilled a love of art in the young people she encountered. Murals produced by Anne’s students can be seen on the walls of Manor Middle School and Liberty Hill Middle School.

In 1980, Anne married Mark Cina. She recently told him that he was her favorite person in the world. She and Mark shared a love for hiking and camping and spent every summer traveling to State and National Parks. Some of her favorite places were Frisco, Colorado, and Zion National Park in Utah.

She was a devoted and loving mother to her son Ben whose professional music career brought her much pride and delight. A wonderful aunt as well, her nieces and nephews will miss her deep kindness and humor. She always looked forward to family get-togethers and to a spirited game of Pictionary where she always helped the girl’s team defeat the boy’s team!

Family and faith were Anne’s passion and joy. A member of FBC of Killeen for over 37 years, she participated in the hand bell choir, volunteered in Vacation Bible School, and attended many Beth Moore Bible Studies as well as the Peacemakers Sunday School class. Since retirement, some of her greatest joy came from participating in Bible Study Fellowship and volunteering as a leader in MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers) and in an after-school program for elementary students called Good News Club.

During her eight-year journey through cancer, Anne was the one in the family who lived by the greatest faith. Her emails bearing news of her changing health were filled with assurances of God’s sovereign and enduring care of us all. Hers was never a fear of death; only a deep concern for those of us who would be left behind.

Anne will be greatly missed by her family and friends who deeply loved and cherished her. She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Mark Cina of Harker Heights; son Benjamin Cina of Austin; brother John Cowley and sister-in-law Susan Cowley of Waco; sister Diedra Cowley Flora and brother-in-law Ward Flora of St. Petersburg, Florida; nephews and their families Jeff, Karen, Cristian and Cierra Cowley; Evan Cowley; Sam and Jenn Flora and her faithful and devoted friend of 47 years, Patty Laine of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Anne was a faithful donor to Talitha Koum Institute, a mental health therapeutic nursery, and, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent in her memory to Talitha Koum, P.O. Box 2202, Waco, TX 76703.

Arrangements entrusted to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen.