Obituary for Ernest Terrell Cowan, Jr.
Ernest T. Cowan, Jr. of Chattanooga, TN transitioned on May 2, 2023 after privately and courageously living with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was 79.
Ernest was born at home on the west side of Chattanooga and educated in Chattanooga Public Schools. He was a proud member of the Howard High School, class of 1961, and studied Mathematics at Tennessee State University and the University of TN at Chattanooga. His professional career was spent in Accounting and IT roles with BASF (formerly Polysar) in Chattanooga and Charlotte, NC.
Upon retirement, Ernest returned to his beloved hometown of Chattanooga. But, that doesn’t really tell you much about the man we loved. Ernest was a man of many interests. In his prime, he ran 5k road races, played a little tennis and
enjoyed a daily crossword puzzle. He loved traveling to Jamaica, tried his hand working backstage with the Chattanooga Little Theater and helped his community with their taxes through his volunteer work with the Chattanooga Urban League. Ernest loved the music of Lou Rawls and Miles Davis. He never passed on a piece of chocolate, a good game of poker, and a shot of brandy was alright too. His candor and wit were well known. He told great stories. During his last days at Memorial Hospital, he maintained a rapt audience. He was his own favorite comedian and had a lifetime of shenanigans that led to belly laughs with every re- telling. As he said, “My friends and I had some good times. We celebrated life daily. They know who they are so don’t mention any names, but they know the fun we had. That’s what I want everyone to remember – the good times.”
Ernest was proceeded in death by his parents: Myrtle and Earnest, Sr.; three siblings: Paxton Simmons (Gladys) of Louisville, Edward Isadore Simmons (Sue) of Detroit and Virginia Simmons Banks (Keith) of Chicago; and brothers-in-law: Fletcher Wiley and Keith Banks of Chicago; Joseph Dossett of Chattanooga and David Blair of Cleveland, TN.
Ernest loved his family and he told each of them that they were his favorites. His adoring wife of 19 years is Joyce Evans Cowan. He and his former wife, Rebecca, are parents to Adam Cowan of Chattanooga, Allison Cowan Carroll and Jeroy Carroll, III of Atlanta. Ernest was “Granddude” to his most favorite people, his granddaughters, Addison and Avery of Atlanta, and he made sure the girls had bear hugs and kisses to last a lifetime. Ernest is “Baby Brother” to his sisters,
Mildred Simmons Wiley of Chicago and Maxine Cowan Dossett of Chattanooga. He is also survived by his sisters and brothers-in-law: Billie Blair of Cleveland, TN; Sally Chaney (Keith) of Tulsa; Nancy Ware of Broken Arrow, and Daniel Provine, Jr. (Janice) of Chattanooga. He is “Uncle E” to Kevin Dossett, Gerald Dossett (Annie) and Chris Dossett (Constance) of Chattanooga; Keith Wiley, Eileen Banks Matthews, and Carol Banks of Chicago, Lori Simmons
Bell of Detroit; Colin Provine (Dawn) of Tampa, Calandra Eineker (Joseph) of Alpharetta, and Corey Provine (Gabriella) of Moorestown. There are a host of grand nieces and nephews who carry his memory.
Ernest wanted to ensure that a special thanks is given to Billie Blair, Kemi Michele Evans of Huntsville and Adam Cowan for their care.
In true Ernest fashion, he wanted to leave you with these final words: ”You’ll find me in either the good part of hell or the bad part of heaven. Either way, I’ll see you later.”
A private celebration will be held at a later time.
Ernest was born at home on the west side of Chattanooga and educated in Chattanooga Public Schools. He was a proud member of the Howard High School, class of 1961, and studied Mathematics at Tennessee State University and the University of TN at Chattanooga. His professional career was spent in Accounting and IT roles with BASF (formerly Polysar) in Chattanooga and Charlotte, NC.
Upon retirement, Ernest returned to his beloved hometown of Chattanooga. But, that doesn’t really tell you much about the man we loved. Ernest was a man of many interests. In his prime, he ran 5k road races, played a little tennis and
enjoyed a daily crossword puzzle. He loved traveling to Jamaica, tried his hand working backstage with the Chattanooga Little Theater and helped his community with their taxes through his volunteer work with the Chattanooga Urban League. Ernest loved the music of Lou Rawls and Miles Davis. He never passed on a piece of chocolate, a good game of poker, and a shot of brandy was alright too. His candor and wit were well known. He told great stories. During his last days at Memorial Hospital, he maintained a rapt audience. He was his own favorite comedian and had a lifetime of shenanigans that led to belly laughs with every re- telling. As he said, “My friends and I had some good times. We celebrated life daily. They know who they are so don’t mention any names, but they know the fun we had. That’s what I want everyone to remember – the good times.”
Ernest was proceeded in death by his parents: Myrtle and Earnest, Sr.; three siblings: Paxton Simmons (Gladys) of Louisville, Edward Isadore Simmons (Sue) of Detroit and Virginia Simmons Banks (Keith) of Chicago; and brothers-in-law: Fletcher Wiley and Keith Banks of Chicago; Joseph Dossett of Chattanooga and David Blair of Cleveland, TN.
Ernest loved his family and he told each of them that they were his favorites. His adoring wife of 19 years is Joyce Evans Cowan. He and his former wife, Rebecca, are parents to Adam Cowan of Chattanooga, Allison Cowan Carroll and Jeroy Carroll, III of Atlanta. Ernest was “Granddude” to his most favorite people, his granddaughters, Addison and Avery of Atlanta, and he made sure the girls had bear hugs and kisses to last a lifetime. Ernest is “Baby Brother” to his sisters,
Mildred Simmons Wiley of Chicago and Maxine Cowan Dossett of Chattanooga. He is also survived by his sisters and brothers-in-law: Billie Blair of Cleveland, TN; Sally Chaney (Keith) of Tulsa; Nancy Ware of Broken Arrow, and Daniel Provine, Jr. (Janice) of Chattanooga. He is “Uncle E” to Kevin Dossett, Gerald Dossett (Annie) and Chris Dossett (Constance) of Chattanooga; Keith Wiley, Eileen Banks Matthews, and Carol Banks of Chicago, Lori Simmons
Bell of Detroit; Colin Provine (Dawn) of Tampa, Calandra Eineker (Joseph) of Alpharetta, and Corey Provine (Gabriella) of Moorestown. There are a host of grand nieces and nephews who carry his memory.
Ernest wanted to ensure that a special thanks is given to Billie Blair, Kemi Michele Evans of Huntsville and Adam Cowan for their care.
In true Ernest fashion, he wanted to leave you with these final words: ”You’ll find me in either the good part of hell or the bad part of heaven. Either way, I’ll see you later.”
A private celebration will be held at a later time.