Reta Pearl Nawhin Bowcut

Reta Pearl (Cox) Bowcut, 87, died peacefully at her home in Meadowbrook Assisted Living Community, in Ontario, on Nov. 6, 2013. She lived a very happy life these past 5 ½ years in her Meadowbrook home and loved the staff and other residents as her extended family. Reta was born Dec. 18, 1925, as the first born child of Leon Mawhin and Lora (Francis) Mawhin in Enterprise, OR. Six years later, her beloved sister, Marian, joined their family. The girls grew up on the family ranch on Mawhin Road. After graduation, Reta married her High School Sweetheart, John "Wayne" Cox on June 15, 1944. They raised their two children, Rick Cox and Vicky Cox, in Enterprise, OR. They owned the Blue Mountain Creamery, plus Mom began her years in nursing at Wallowa County Memorial Hospital. In 1961, the family moved to Tempe, AZ, and one year later they moved to Ontario, OR. Reta worked for many years as a Nurse and Physical Therapist at local nursing homes and retired after a number of years at Simplot in Caldwell, ID. Reta and Arial "Earl" Bowcut were married for 12 years. Mom was a very dear friend and caretaker for Arnold Harvey for 14 years until he passed away. Reta loved making baby quilts, embroidering and spending hours in her garden. She enjoyed sharing her peas, raspberries, tomatoes and canned peaches from her garden with family and friends. She belonged to the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Payette, ID. She was very proud of her years as leader of the SDA Dorcas Organization; where she donated hundreds of additional handmade baby blankets. Reta is survived by her sister, Marian Birkmaier (Mack); her daughter, Vicky Cox (Rod Walter); her four granddaughters, Sonya Reed-Moskau (Eric), Cindi Turner, Amy Kee (Glen) and Heather Curtis (Casey); her 12 grandchildren, Hagan and Gunnar Moskau, Alex, Jake, Ben, Abby, Erin and Carly Turner, Megan and Ryan Kee and Mackenzie and Landon Curtis; a very sweet niece, Lorri Fischer, her two nephews, John and Tom Birkmaier; her dearest friend for over 70 years, Murna Downing, and many wonderful cousins, great nieces and nephews and friends. Reta was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved son, Richard "Rick" Cox. She loved all her family but she always had a very special bond with her granddaughter, Soni. They spent many happy days together. Thanks, Mom, for being a "second Mom" to Soni through the years. Our family wishes to thank the Meadowbrook and Legacy Staff for their loving care. This journey would have been unbearable without your kindness and support. We will be forever grateful. A viewing for Reta's family and friends will be from 5 - 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 11th at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, 112 N. 9th St., Payette. Her funeral will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12th at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette with Chaplain Ralph Pearson officiating. She will be buried at Park View Cemetery, New Plymouth. A Celebration of Life will follow at Meadowbrook Assisted Living Community, 1372 SW 8th Ave., Ontario. Condolences may be made to Reta's family at www.shaffer-jensenchapel.com. To honor Reta's memory memorials may be made to Project Dove, c/o Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, ID 83661. Mom, we will all miss your wonderful smile and your melodious, mischievous chuckle.

Service Details.

Visitation

When: Monday, November 11th, 2013
Location: Funeral Home
Address:

Service

When: Tuesday, November 12th, 2013
Location: Funeral Home
Address: