Heyward "Slim" Dempsey Cowan, of Sedro-Woolley, WA, passed away in his sleep on Monday, March 7, 2022, in the comfort of his home. He was 95 years old.

Born the eldest of six children, Heyward played high school basketball and baseball and drove the local school bus in his hometown of Sylva, N.C. He was drafted into the U.S. Army while still in high school and served in the Pacific during World War II. He also spent time in Tokyo working at an Army hospital during the occupation of Japan.

After his service, Heyward returned to North Carolina, where he eventually finished his education. In 1950, he and his father, mother and three of his siblings packed all their belongings into a 1941 Plymouth DeLuxe and drove West, with the hope of finding employment in the forests of the Pacific Northwest.

Heyward logged in the Upper Skagit area, and helped build Upper Baker Dam. While living in Marblemount, he met the love of his life, Dona Lea Eldridge. They were married in 1955, and went on to have three daughters, Deanna Cryan, Joyce Cowan and Lisa Cowan. In 1962, the family moved to Renton after Heyward found work with the Washington State Department of Transportation as a soils engineer. He retired in 1989, and he and Dona moved to Sedro-Woolley in 2006.

Active in his church, Heyward served as a trustee and usher at Renton Assembly of God and also went on to be a member at Kent Covenant Church and Bethany Covenant in Mount Vernon.

Heyward always had a sharp sense of humor, loved his wife Dona, his daughters, a good hound dog, and a great game of poker. He bred top hunting beagles and had the first A.K.C. Field Champion west of the Mississippi. Many beagles throughout the Northwest trace their lineage to Heyward and Dona's Showline Kennels.

Heyward regularly played poker at the Sedro Woolley Eagles until recently. He was also an excellent shot with a rifle, proud union steward, Democrat, and classic country music fan.

Heyward is survived by his wife, Dona, and his children, Deanna Cryan (Richard), Joyce Cowan (Mohammad Kashefipour), and Lisa Cowan (Chris Wisniewski), his grandchildren, Jonathan Cryan and Madeline Cryan, his brothers, Deck and Trotter, and his sisters, Kacy Johnson, and Helen Butkovich.

He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Thad and Nora Lee, and his brother, Cooper.

A celebration of Heyward's life will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Hawthorne Funeral Home, 1825 East College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. In order to keep everyone safe, we are requesting that all guests be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Thank you for your cooperation.

Donations in Heyward's honor can be made to the Helping Hands Food Bank of Skagit County .

Please visit www.hawthornefh.com to share your thoughts and memories and sign the online guest register.

Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, WA.