Kay Rainwater Cowles

Kay Rainwater Cowles, 86, a resident of Lapine, Alabama, passed away peacefully at Crenshaw Community Hospital on Monday, February 3rd, 2025. A graveside service for Kay will be held at 12 PM on Friday, February 7th, in Berea Cemetery with Minister Gary Daniel officiating. The family will receive friends at The Big House at 1809 Old Meriwether Trail in Lapine from 10 -11:30 AM.

It's likely a safe bet that no one did more to feed the community around Highland Home than Kay Cowles, better known as Mamie to both her grandchildren and pretty much everyone else. See, food was absolutely her love language and it's likely that she would have feed the Devil himself if he showed up claiming to be hungry! And anyone who ever tasted her food would tell you that you weren't gonna find better anywhere. Southern home-cooking was her specialty, but her cakes were truly spectacular. Rarely did a week go by that she didn't make a pound cake or two, but her Honey Bun cakes would absolutely blow your mind.

Obviously, Kay was extremely generous with both her time and her gifts. She was a bright light in world often too full of darkness, despite the hardships she herself endured. She was a born nurturer and there's no telling how many lives she made better just through her kindness and generosity. She wasn't a pushover though and she stayed spunky to the end. In fact, it was just a few weeks ago that she baked 20 cakes in one week! She and her husband also spent the last over 40 years giving of their time and energy on the board of trustees for Rocky Mount Cemetery. The world most definitely needs far more people like Kay Cowles in it and that is an incredible memory to leave behind for others to aspire to!

Kay was preceded in death by her beloved children, Gilbert E. Loftin Jr and Sharon Loftin McGough, and her parents, E.L. & Maurine Brooks Rainwater. She is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Haywood Cowles; son, T.H. Cowles Jr; son-in-law, Lonnie McGough; grandchildren, Neal (Amanda) McGough and Anna Grace Cowles (Jonathon Jones); great-grandson, Jack Farmer; brother, Erbie Lee (Nina) Rainwater Jr; her special, dear friends, Eileen Bennett, Wiloneese Lowe, Mildred Register, and the "girls" at It Don't Matter; and a host of cousins, extended family members, and friends.

Active pallbearers will be Neal McGough, Jonathon Jones, Bry Findley, Ricky McElwain, Dennison Reeves, and Keith Reeves.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Dr. Clint Kilcrease and the staffs at both Crenshaw Community Hospital and Luverne Health & Rehabilitation for their tender, loving care.