- Date Of Birth: June 4, 1932
- Date Of Death: August 10, 2020
- State: Idaho
Herbert James McCowan, 88, of Dietrich, Idaho, passed away at his home Monday, August 10, 2020. Herb was born on June 4, 1932 in Twin Falls, Idaho, and was the first of six children to Herbert Grant McCowan and Eunice “Dot” Cleveland McCowan Harrison. Herb, or Herbie to some, was quite the jokester and rather witty even up until his final days.
Herb grew up in Dietrich where he met his high school sweetheart, Ruby Warren who had moved to Dietrich from Colorado. Herb was up for the challenge of pursuing Ruby, who finally gave in and married Herb on May 24, 1951. In the years soon after, the two became a family of five, adding their children Donald, Gary and RoseAnn.
Herb and Ruby didn’t have much to start with but were able to get a taste of the agriculture life and loved it. Herb helped develop many properties around the Dietrich tract turning them from desert to irrigated land, first by gravity irrigation and then to sprinkler systems. Herb also farmed potatoes for many years and harvest became a community and family event each year. In true McCowan fashion, when it was time to work cattle in the spring and fall, it became like a family reunion conveniently scheduled at the same time. This, along with the opening of pheasant season, were big occasions and became family traditions.
Herb and Ruby had such a love for children that on many occasions they opened their home and lives to many others.
Herb was most known to many for being quite the irrigator and an abundant gardener. If you ask any of his neighbors what they would do when they saw him driving by on his four-wheeler, they would likely reply that they’d pretend they weren’t home, hoping he wouldn’t have any deliveries for the day. That didn’t stop him though, he would leave his gifts on the front porch whether they wanted them or not. Herb was such the farmer and irrigator that if possible, he could have made water run uphill, he really was that good. Herbs favorite item was his irrigation shovel. It was always sharp and the size of a spoon by the end of the season. If you touched the shovel you were sternly reminded to never do it again.
Herb was generous and kind, and would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. However, if you needed help while out fishing, he’d hand you his pocket knife and tell you to cut your own damn line, there appeared to be limits to his kindness while fishing. For Herb, fishing was very serious business up until his grandkids began to show an interest. It could have been that fishing sounded like a great time with grandpa, or perhaps that he had a candy dish fully stocked, but either way his time spent fishing with grandkids made for great memories for everyone. Although a fishing pole in his hand seemed to make him a tough guy, a grandkid near him made him a softy and he is rumored to have even helped bait a line and gut a fish every now and then.
Herb was truly a farmer, a husband, a father, a son and the best grandpa for the books. He will be loved and treasured in our hearts forever and always. Until we meet again Gramps!
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen
Herb is survived by: his wife – Ruby; his children – Gary (Cyndi), Roseann (Rick Everson); brother Randy (Dorene); sister – Karen Scott; sisters-in-law – Tak and Judy McCowan; and step-sister – Merlyn Pittman. He was the proud grandfather of 7 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren and 3 great-greatgrandchildren. He leaves behind a large extended family of nieces and nephews who held a special place in his heart.
Herb was preceded in death by: his mother – Eunice and his father – Herbert; son – Donald and wife – Sue Curry McCowan; brothers – Kenneth and Richard McCowan; sister – Elaine Hall; step-sisters – Edith Peck and Patricia Capps and nephews – Chad and Jordan McCowan.
