Marlene May "Marti" Cowley

Marlene May Cowley died on December 20, 2024 at Aspens Memory Care in Fort Collins, CO. She passed peacefully with her daughters at her side after living with advancing dementia for many years. Marlene (Marti) was born at her family's farmhouse near Comstock, NE on April 19, 1941 to George (Bud) and Zona Fisher. She was the youngest of five, having one sister, Phyllis and three much older brothers, Morris, Paul, and Clarence. She developed a lifelong love of all animals at an early age, most especially her pinto horse, Lady who she used to herd the cattle to and from the pasture and corral. She often preferred the company of animals to people.
After the death of her father, Marti moved to Wichita with her mother to be near her older married brothers. In Wichita, she enjoyed working as a car hop and switchboard operator at the Continental Grill. She graduated from Wichita High School West and married Gerald Norman Janzen in 1959. After they had two daughters, Sherrie and Eva Jane, Marti worked at Innes Department Store in Wichita, KS at a wide assortment of jobs including sales clerk, marketing department, waitress, gift wrap, and mailroom. The couple moved to Lincoln, NE partly to be near Marti's sister. In Lincoln, Marti worked as a window dresser, designed floor displays, and was also switchboard operator for Gold's/Brandeis Department Store. After divorce, she moved with her daughters to Grand Island, NE to be Brandeis' Display Director.
Marti married Michael Jon Cowley, December 22, 1970. The couple moved to Laporte, Colorado in 1971 and later "into town" in Fort Collins, Colorado. Marti was always artistic and industrious. She started a home business making and selling "Cowley Candles" to various gift shops for several years. Her daughters enjoyed the sights and smells involved in candlemaking. Marti was also a skilled seamstress sewing many special outfits for her daughters and herself over the years. Later Marti worked at Teledyne Water Pik factory. In the 80's, Marti attended Larimer County Vocational Tech Center and later Front Range Community College studying Computer Literacy, Word processing, Typing, Business English, Business Math, & Data Entry. She also had a job sewing applique on garments.
Marti was always artistic and creative and produced many beautiful crewel artworks. She enjoyed her house plants and gardening, and feeding the birds. She was an avid reader and did two crossword puzzles daily until dementia made it too difficult. She would always rather clean up and than cook, which worked well with her husband who enjoyed cooking. She loved going for drives in the mountains and always remarked, "They don't call them the Rockies for nothing." Marti will be remembered for her feisty spirit, her dry sense of humor, and the care and love she shared with her family.
Marti is survived by her sister, Phyllis, her husband, Michael, her daughters Sherrie and Eva Jayne, five grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, and seven great - great grandchildren. There will be a memorial service later in the spring. In lieu of flowers, she would prefer donations go to your local Humane Society.