Rita Cowles

Longtime Sharon Springs, Kansas resident, Rita J. Cowles, 78, passed away Thursday, April 26, 2018 at her home in Sharon Springs.

Rita was born on August 10, 1939 in Frankfort, Indiana to Harold C. and Hazel M. (Steen) Ashley.  She was one of two children. As a child, she grew up and attended school in Frankfort, and graduated from Frankfort High School in 1957.

On September 18, 1959, she married Marion Michael Cowles in Sharon Springs.  To this union, three children, Michael, Michele and Marc were born. She was a housewife and was involved with various activities and organizations throughout her life, including Order of Eastern Star and the Weskan Bible Church.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Harold C. and Hazel M. Ashley, and her mother and father-in-law Helen J. Cowles and Marion Asa Cowles Jr.

She is survived by her husband Michael Cowles of the home in Sharon Springs, her three children; Michael W. Cowles and Debra D. Collins of Colby, KS, Michele (Joe) Noark of Ballwin, MO, and Marion Marc Cowles of Ness City, KS; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and one brother William O. Ashley of Edinburgh, IN.