He was born July 13, 1955 in Waverly, New York, the son of Donald and Patricia (Dewey) Cowles. He was raised in Littleton, New Hampshire and was a graduate of Littleton High School, Paul Smith's College in New York, and Westminster College in Utah. Don worked for many years in the field of environmental and industrial waste management. During his career he was fortunate to travel internationally on many occasions and see different parts of the world. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his father and brother, playing golf, and was well-known for his woodworking and craftsmanship. He could build or repair anything, an ability he learned from his father, and he was always ready and willing to assist any of his friends or children with household repairs.
While living in Texas, Don met his loving wife Janan (Johnson) Cowles. They married in 1984. In 1998 they moved to Cornville, Maine and purchased a Christmas tree farm. They had a wonderful life raising their three children in a rural setting and spending time with their beloved pets. Don and Janan were therapeutic foster parents for 10 years, assisting and supporting troubled children. For the past five years Don has been employed by Maine Wood Pellets as the Manager of Human Resources, Quality Control, and a key player in their maintenance department. He truly loved his job. He often expressed how much he enjoyed the company and the people he worked with, who became like his second family.
After their children were grown, Don and Janan enjoyed spending time together watching shows, going on weekend outings, and spending as much time as possible with their children and grandchildren. To his grandchildren Don was known as Oompa, and he loved giving them rides on his tractor or dune buggy, helping them with projects in his workshop, and reading books to the little ones. Don was a loving husband, son, brother, father, and grandfather and will be greatly missed.
Don is survived by his wife Janan and their three children, Alisha Pike and her husband Howie, Amanda Welch and her husband Michael, Donald Cowles III and his wife Brooke; his mother Patrica Cowles; brother Tim Cowles and his wife Kim, his sister Cathleen Potter and her husband Gary; as well as his eight grandchildren, Michael, Nicholas, Austin, Noah, Shelby, Mason, Violet, and Brady; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and other friends and family. He was predeceased by his father Donald Cowles.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00am on Friday, November 16, 2018 at The Skowhegan Federated Church, 9 Island Ave Skowhegan, with the Rev. Mark Tanner officiating. Burial will follow at Collins Cemetery in Cornville, followed by a reception at the Skowhegan Elks Lodge, 21 Silver St Skowhegan.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The American Cancer Society, a cause close to Don's heart in support of his loved ones who have been affected by cancer.
