Yolanda P. Cowley's Obituary
Yolanda P. Cowley died January 10, in Mansfield, Texas. Her parents, and her husband of 58 years, Luis M. Cowley, M.D, preceded her in death. Surviving her are her six children and spouses Dr. Zachary R. and Anna Hodges of Houston, Pat and Markie Rank of Dallas and Laguna Niguel, CA, Luis Cowley of Richardson, Maria Cowley of Mansfield, Yolanda “Yo” Cowley Brady, M.D., of Waxahachie, and Felipe and Mary Ann Cowley of McKinney. Grandchildren and spouses are Krisana Hodges and Alison Beck of Oakland, CA, Emily Hodges of Houston, Michael Cowley of Richardson, Danielle “Dani” Archuleta and Toni Olivi of Kennedale, Logan and Erin Brady of Cheshire, CT, Gable Brady of Washington, DC, Bill and Abby Cowley of Anderson, and Josie Cowley of McKinney. Great-grandchildren are Penelope and Quinn Brady of Cheshire, CT, and Emma and Ella Cowley of Anderson. Also surviving her are her nephew Luis M. Cowley II and wife Linda from Colorado Springs, CO, Jonathon Cowley and Gabriel Cowley of Colorado Springs, CO, and Justin Cowley of Arlington, VA, and long-time close friends and relatives in Texas and Florida.Driven by a strong value for knowledge and education, Yolanda held a Doctor of Pharmacy degree with a concentration in chemistry from Cuba. She married Luis Cowley on August 29, 1948, after he returned from a rotation in neuropsychiatry at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Washington D.C. Together they reared six children.The family left Cuba and settled in Terrell, Texas, in 1960, where Yolanda stayed home with the children, volunteering in church activities and school programs. She always said that with six children she sold more hot dogs at Friday night football games than most mothers around.After the children were all enrolled in school, Yolanda returned to Southern Methodist University (SMU) to pursue a Master of Liberal Arts. She taught part-time at Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, a small church-based junior college. She was honored as Professor of the Year and named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.The Cowleys moved to Richardson in 1981, where Yolanda continued her spirit of volunteerism. She volunteered at Richardson Hospital, later named Methodist Richardson Medical Center, for over 30 years. She started there in the Gift Shop and eventually moved to areas where she could interact more personally with patients. Several years ago she was honored as one of the volunteers earning the most cumulative hours. Yolanda also gave her time to the Christian Ministries in Richardson, distributing clothing and goods to low-income families, and brought food and companionship to the elderly and infirm as part of the North Dallas Meals on Wheels.Her faith was important to her. The Cowleys were longtime members of Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Richardson, where she was an active member of the church’s chapter of Catholic Daughters and was also a Eucharistic Minister.Visitation and Rosary will be held at Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1300 Greenville Avenue, at 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 14, with a Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Paul’s Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 1:30 p.m. Graveside services and Internment will follow. Pallbearers are her sons-in-law and her grandsons, and Karen Rank. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made in the name of Yolanda P. Cowley to Visiting Nurses Association, P.O. Box 650683, Dallas, TX 75265, or to the SPCA of Texas, 2400 Lone Star Dr., Dallas, TX 75212The Cowley family expresses its deep gratitude to Sandy Rothwell for her faithful companionship and later loving caregiving, the staff at Watercrest at Mansfield, an independent senior community that Yolanda moved to five years ago, that the staff of the Isle at Watercrest, where she stayed the past six weeks, and to the staff of Bristol Hospice that provided comfort care.
What’s your fondest memory of Yolanda?
What’s a lesson you learned from Yolanda?
Share a story where Yolanda's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Yolanda you’ll never forget.
How did Yolanda make you smile?