Shirley Ann Montgomery Cowherd

Shirley Ann Montgomery Cowherd was born January 25, 1938 in Lebanon Kentucky to Alene Gunn and Thomas Montgomery. She was the oldest of seven children. She was preceded in death by her parents Alene and Thomas and three siblings, Thomas Montgomery, Jr., Betty Edelyn and Joseph Montgomery. Shirley was a graduate of Rosenwald High School, Class of 1957. She later enrolled in Saint Catharine College, where she took secretarial courses. On June 27, 1959, Shirley married William “Bill” Cowherd. They moved to Louisville and began their lives of more than 64 years together. Shirley worked early on as a domestic worker, cooking and cleaning for others. Later she worked at Dealers Transport for many years, where her secretarial training went to good use. Lastly, she worked at National Processing Company, where she retired early. Shirley was a very good seamstress. She could sew an entire outfit, jacket, skirt and pants, overnight, and ready to wear at the next evening’s event. Shirley loved to change up the decor in the house, often wallpapering an entire room on a Friday evening. The next morning we would wake up to a fresh new room after the overnight makeover. She could be fiercely competitive, especially when it came to playing card games, where she rarely lost, since she made sure to win at all cost. She loved bowling and had been on several leagues throughout the years. Shirley’s favorite pastime was traveling over the road in their motorhome. They traveled a few times a year with many others that became their lifelong friends. She enjoyed those trips immensely as she was a social butterfly and loved being around people. She truly treasured the camping trips and the many friends that she met while on those trips. Shirley loved riding in the car, and Bill was an expert driver who took her wherever she wanted to go up until the day before her passing. Her last day was spent shopping at the mall, which she loved to do and eating at one of her new favorite restaurants, Pier 17. At 85 years of age, she is survived by her husband of more than 64 years, Bill Cowherd; children, Cassandra Cowherd (Kip) and Yolanda Cowherd, siblings; Joyce Hayden (Benny), Alene Scott (Sam), Susan McKay(Calvin)and a host of in-laws, nieces and nephews and lastly her grandson, Kameron Cowherd, he was her everything. Visitation: 9am-11am Friday, December 15, 2023, at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 2042 Buechel Bank Rd., funeral service to follow at 11am. Burial: Calvary Cemetery.

Shirley Ann Montgomery Cowherd

January 25, 1938 - December 9, 2023