Edith LaVerne Cowan

LaVerne Cowan, 83, a longtime resident of Torrance, passed away peacefully on Thursday April 4th at a local hospital with her family at her side. She and her beloved husband Lynn are together again.

LaVerne was born in Los Angeles on April 16, 1930 to Elmer and Marie Marshrey. She was the middle of three children. LaVerne graduated from Los Angeles High in 1948 with her high school sweetheart and future husband Lynn Cowan. They were married for 39 years until Lynn's death in June 1990. LaVerne was a stay at home mom for their three children. After the children grew up, LaVerne started her 26 year career at Bank of America. She worked at several branches in the South Bay during her long career, before retiring in 2004.

In her leisure time she was always "on her way to bingo". She also enjoyed playing slot machines at many Indian casinos and in Las Vegas. She was a people person and loved watching and talking to people.

Remembering their Mom's passionate love for the beach and California, the loss will be felt deeply by her three children left behind, Steve (Cathy) Cowan of Manhattan Beach, Jim (Judy)Cowan of Colorado Springs, CO, and Laura (Mark) Garrick of Colorado Springs, CO. LaVerne is also survived by her brother Phil (Arlene) Marshrey of Reno, NV; her sister in law Cindy Roth of Phoenix, AZ; her eight grandchildren; Abby, Arielle, Annalise, Jared, Philip, Gabrielle, Dan and Jeff; and her great grandchildren Vivian, Ava, Cassie, Perry, Blakely and Carson.

Visitation will begin at 9am with a Memorial Service at 11am and reception from noon until 2pm all to be held at Rice Mortuary, 5310 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90503 on Tuesday, April 8, 2014. A private interment will be held on Wednesday April 9, 2014 at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, CA.