Our beloved father, Robert (Bob) Pillow Cowie passed away June 6, 2012 surrounded by his family. He was born March 15, 1920 in Columbia, Tennessee to Mary Marcella (Pillow) and Gordon Rice Cowie. He attended the U of Tennessee, Knoxville until Pearl Harbor when he enlisted in the Air Force. Bob graduated from cadet pilot training at Luke with his silver wings and served to Major in USAAF. He was the most decorated WWII soldier in the state of Tennessee, awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters. After the war Bob returned to AZ and married Catherine Elaine McGuire on June 29, 1945. They had two daughters Caren Elaine Cowie Redivo and Catherine (Cay) Ann Cowie. Bob was the co-founder of Lasher-Cowie Insurance Agency which he grew to the largest independent agency in the state of AZ, with branches in Tucson and Flagstaff. He was inducted into the National Independent Insurance Agents’ Hall of Fame. Always the entrepreneur, he also founded Auto Insurance Mart, Central Insurance Budget Plan, Rocky Mountain General Agency, Bob-Itch Leasing and Innkeepers International. His civic and community interests were numerous serving as President of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation, and BOD for AZ Humane Society, AZ Horseman’s Association, Desert Foundation, YMCA, Valley Forward Association, and AZ Academy Town Halls. Bob enjoyed playing Polo, skiing and dancing. He was a founding member of the Scottsdale Polo Club and was often heard to say, “I was born to dance.” He is survived by his daughters, son-in-law Ron Redivo, grandchildren Robert (Bob) Seminoff, Rich Seminoff, Liberty Rasor, Brandon Rasor, 8 great grandchildren, his dog, Buddy and polo ponies Ladybug and Pixie. Bob will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery with a celebration of his life later this fall in AZ. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation, P.O. Box 14345, Scottsdale, AZ 85267, 480-998-0230.
Catherine Leyen
I am so sorry to hear about Bob passing away. I remember him often being the oldest playing member of the North Scottsdale Polo Club, and he would put to shame many younger players. In the early 2000’s, his truck was getting a transmission changed, and he was unable to play in a tournament, so I volunteered to pick him and his horses up in my truck & trailer, as I was not playing in the tournament that weekend. Additionally, I invited Dr. Elaine Niggeman to the tournament, a cardiologist who grew up with Bob’s daughters and served in the VietNam war as a nurse. It was a wonderful reunion for them to reminisce about how Bob had taken his daughters and Elaine out to the local lake and gone boating when they were all younger. Bob and Kay came to my house for a Thanksgiving Day party many years ago, and as always, I enjoyed the conversation, the camaraderie and their wit. Bob was proud of his daughters, his grandchildren, his horses, his shotguns, and had some wonderful stories he shared with me about the early business days in Phoenix, the ABC Ranch and more. I will miss him. Prayers to his family for their loss. Sincerely, Cathy Leyen