Leonard M. Cowey

Leonard M. “Len” Cowey
Died April 23, 2004

CHESTER – Leonard M. "Len” Cowey, 62, died Friday, April 23, 2004, a the Fox Nursing and Rehabilitation Center following a lengthy illness. He had resided with is daughter Libby Grimes of Chester since October of 2000.
A sonof the late Paul R. Cowey and Georgia Pickering Cowey Kiger, he was born in Chester, March 25, 1942.
Len retired as a resident manager for American Storage in Greenville, S.C. In 1969 he founded and operated the Panhandle Press, which was a weekly newspaper in Chester. He worked for 22 years as general manager for Buckeye Publishing and was instrumental in founding the Morning Journal newspaper. At one time Len served as Vice President of both the East Liverpool Rotary Club and the East Liverpool Chamber of Commerce. A voting member of the Associated Press, he was a member of the Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia Press Association. At one time he served as superintendent of the Chester Water and Sewer Department and was a past president of the Chester Water Board. A past president of the Chester Lions Club, he was the past Noble Grand of the Chester Odd Fellows Lodge 245. In addition, he was the past secretary of the Hancock County Development Corporation, a past member of the Chester Planning Commission and was the first president of the Chester Civil Service Commission. He also was a member of the Trinity Presbyterian Church in East Liverpool and graduated from Chester High School in 1951.
A brother, David Cowey, preceded him in death along with a nephew, Kenneth Wayne Cowey, and a sister-in-law, Keroll Cowey.
Surviving are two daughters, Libby Grimes and her husband Chris and Lorie Straight of Chester; a stepfather, Joseph F. Kiger and his wife, Nondis of Warren, Ohio; three brothers, George Cowey and Rex Cowey of Chester and Wayne Cowey of Galt, Calif. In addition there are two sisters, Betty Vocial and her husband Edwin of East Liverpool and Linda Icenhour and her husband Harry of Darlington, Pa. A sister-in-law, Fran Cowey of Chester, also survives.
There are five grandchildren, Christopher Pratt, Erin and Jake Straight, Frank Nally Jr. and Megan Nally. A step-grandchild, Lakota Grimes, also survives. In addition there are six nieces and four nephews, along with several great-nieces and nephews.
The Rev. Mark Wilds of he New Lisbon Presbyterian Church will conduct a funeral service at 10 a.m. Monday, April 26, 2004, at the Arner Funeral Chapel in Chester. Interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday, where the family will be present from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.