Helen M. Cowling's Obituary
Helen MacArthur Cowling McNair passed away on September 22, 2024, at the age of 102. She resided with her daughter in New Port Richey, Florida. Helen was born in Davenport, New York on July 10, 1922. She was the daughter of Alexander Law MacArthur, a dairy farmer and Mary Hebbard MacArthur, a one room schoolhouse teacher. Helen is survived by her son, Gerald Dievendorf and wife Judith, daughters, Deborah Whitton and husband James and Susan Bambusch. She is also survived by a Stepdaughter, Kathleen Cowling, and Stepson, Dale McNair. She was the beloved grandmother of ten, cherished great grandmother of fifteen, and the adored great- great grandmother of four. Helen is also survived by many wonderful nieces and nephews and her sister-in-law Bath MacArthur. She was predeceased by her sons William and Paul Dievendorf and husbands William Dievendorf, Robert Cowling, and Harold McNair. She was also predeceased by her brothers, Hebbard, John, Paul, and Seth MacArthur and a sister Mary Webb Schaefer. Helen graduated from Charlotte Valley Central School and Albany Business College in New York. She went to work for Wendall Cadillac where she developed a lifelong love for Cadillacs up until she stopped driving at the age of 95. Helen raised her family in Fort Plain, NY where she was the Secretary/Treasurer for the Reformed Church and President of the local PTA and AFS. Helen moved to Riverside, California in 1975 where she worked for Riverside County Mental Health Department and retired at the young age of eighty. She served as a docent for The Historic Mission Inn, Riverside, California. She lived through and witnessed many changes over her lifetime. Her greatest joy was her family. She loved to knit and created hundreds of Christmas Stocking family heirlooms that will be treasured for generations to come. She loved to travel with family, visiting Russia, Australia, Europe and Sweden. She also loved to read novels by her favorite authors John Grisham, and Debbie McComber. A Celebration of Helen’s Glorious Life and burial will take place in Davenport, New York at a later date.
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