Joan Locklin Cowan

November 29, 1927 - September 23, 2019

CANAAN — Joan Locklin Cowan, 91, peacefully broke her bonds with earth early on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2019, her late husband’s birthday, with family in attendance at the Coös County Nursing Hospital in West Stewartstown, NH. Joan was born Nov. 29, 1927, to Harold Grant Locklin and Mildred Norway Locklin and raised in Canaan, Vt. during the Great Depression. She attended high school there through the WWII years. During this time, the school burned to the ground, and classes were held in several nearby buildings. Joan attended Middlebury College, following a family tradition, and studied English Literature, Spanish, and Russian, in hopes of a possible career as a translator at the UN. During her time there, she enjoyed overnight skiing trips with the outing club to the college’s Starr Shelter at the Snow Bowl in Hancock, and bicycle rides to Vergennes. Following graduation in 1949, her pathway led back to the North Country, where she taught at Stanstead College in Stanstead, PQ, while she was courted by the woods-loving Frederick Cowan, and with their shared love for skiing and travel, they married on April 1, 1950. After starting their family, they renovated the big house on Gale Street and later built a get-away at Little Averill Lake, a place cherished by all the family today. Joan returned to the Canaan schools, teaching high school English. Extra money earned by writing columns as a stringer for several newspapers funded her series of little VW bugs that afforded family excursions, with someone always crowding into the “boot.” She began earning her library science credentials at Boston University during summer studies and took other courses at St. Michael’s College, the University of Maine at Orono, and at the University of Vermont, to complete a Master of Education in Library Science. Joan was awarded a Ford Fellowship in 1969-70, working on best methods for implementing environmental education, and loved the chance it gave her to travel. Research trips took her to Scandinavia, several Provinces in Canada, and northern states in the U.S. When Fred’s presence was required by St. Regis Paper Company in Bucksport, Maine for several years, she continued to pursue scholarly activities and worked part time in schools in Hancock County, Maine. When Fred retired to establish a second career in his surveying business, she returned to serve as the Canaan school librarian for many years, forming close relationships with teachers and students alike. Joan was active in social supportive organizations throughout her life. She was a Brownie Scout den mother, was active in the Home Dem organization, the Federation of Women’s Clubs, and the League of Women Voters. With a family of skiers, she was a fixture for years at the Wilderness Ski Area, not giving up her skis until she was 80. She was active for years in the Vermont Teacher’s Union. She enjoyed activities with the local Spinners Club and the Canaan Historical Society, spending happy hours archiving and displaying the collections there. She also was instrumental in organizing the rebirth of the Grace Community Church as an independent church. As they approached and then reached retirement, Joan and Fred fulfilled their wanderlust with trips to the Maritimes, Alaska, the UK, several trips to Europe, the Middle-East, the Southwestern states, Venezuela, and Mexico. Happy memories were all organized into many photo albums the family still enjoys. Joan was predeceased by her parents, her husband Fred, younger brother Grant Locklin, and daughter-in-law Lyn Kraus Cowan. Survivors are Dr. Frank L. Cowan of Canaan, Dr. Stephanie C. Bellomo (husband Anthony) of Jericho, Vt., Jonathan G. Cowan (wife Dr. Julia Schubert) of Bethel, Me., and Timothy R. Cowan (wife Sarah Pollard Cowan) of Vergennes, Vt. She also leaves 5 grandchildren: Brit Cowan (New York City), Seth Cowan (New York City), Hannah Cowan-Lenkowski (husband Adam) of Sandy, UT, Helen Cowan of Addison, Vt., and Peter Cowan of Salt Lake City, UT. The family especially wishes to thank brother Frank and all the wonderful caregivers at the Coös County Nursing Hospital, who teamed up to keep her safe and secure as she became incapacitated by blindness and mobility issues. A private family graveside service will be held in the Canaan Village Cemetery. The family plans a celebration of her life in the spring on a date to be announced. Expressions of sympathy in Joan’s honor may be made to the Canaan Historical Society, 27 Park Street, Canaan, VT 05903. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home, Colebrook, NH.