News & True RV Stories

A great friend of many has recently passed away.  I last saw Greg at the CCI pre-rally in Tucson, AZ.  Fortunately we made time one night during the rally to have dinner at "Lil Abners" in Tucson, it was a great time.  Greg and his wife Bev documented much of there travels on a website   http://www.gbrvn.blogspot.com.Greg had a great personality and was always trying to get the upper hand on me.  We went back and fourth steady.  He last got on my website and sent in an inventory request for a new coach and used a previous customer's name that really was not looking.  In retaliating, Greg called me a few weeks later and wanted me to fax him the current book value on his coach later in the day so he could be there to grab it, I instead immediately faxed a letter from his attorney notifying him we plea bargained down to 10 months in jail.  Later that day he sent me an e-mail that read "thanks a--hole, they have asked us to leave the campground".  He will be dearly missed. 

Even today, a month after Gregs passing the team of Neurological surgeons at Barrow Neurological Institute and the medical examiner do not know what caused his death.  They believe it was a virus but really don't know.  Greg was only 56.

Gregory J. Cowgill, 56, formerly of Ann Arbor and Traverse City, MI, died on March 12, 2008 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, AZ following an eleven-day illness.  Mr. Cowgill was born November 25, 1951 in Bay City, MI, the son of Reginald and Mable Cowgill. 

He grew up in Pinconning, MI and graduated from Pinconning High School in 1969.  He continued his education at Delta College and Central Michigan University, graduating from CMU in 1974 with a Bachelors Degree in Education.  A Masters Degree in School Administration followed in 1977, also at Central Michigan University.  Mr. Cowgill spent his career at Milan Area Schools in Milan, MI and served the district well as a geography teacher, Assistant Principal and finally as Principal of the middle school.  His career in education spanned twenty-five years until his retirement in 1999.

In 1982, he married his best friend, Beverly Salstrom. They worked side by side at Milan Middle School for those twenty-five years and then lived their dream of travel throughout the United States and parts of Canada in a motorcoach for three years following retirement. Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City was their next home.  However, after another three years, the love of travel beckoned once again and, at the time of his death, he and Bev were traveling full-time and enjoying new adventures, living the belief that life is a special occasion every day.

Greg enjoyed cooking, traveling, sports, music, finance and reading Western novels.  He also had a special talent for teasing his grandsons whenever possible.  He will be missed more than words can express and remembered most for his intellect, insight, gift of conversation, warm smile, quick wit and sense of humor.      

Survivors include his loving and devoted wife, Beverly; mother, Mable Cowgill, of Edinburg, TX; two stepdaughters, Kimberly Ineich (Jeff) of Wixom, MI and Kirsten Butler (Eric) of Ypsilanti, MI; and wonderful grandsons, Andrew, Matthew, Cameron, Jacob and Richard; and sister, Jennifer Alexander of Keller, TX.  He was preceded in death by his father, Reginald Cowgill.

Cremation has taken place.  Arrangements were handled by the National Cremation Society, Phoenix, AZ.  In accordance with Greg's wishes, there will be no service.  His family, however, hopes you will consider a memorial contribution to the Barrow Neurological Institute, c/o Dr. Russell Walker, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85013 for their continuing research efforts.  They worked valiantly to save Greg's life. 

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