Gloyd Cowley

Gloyd Merlin Cowley, age 89, passed away February 21, 2018 in Wickenburg, AZ



Gloyd "Bill" was born April 12, 1928 in Logan, Utah to Merlin Joseph Cowley and Opal Evelyn Cash. He was raised on a dairy farm in Logan, Utah. In his teens, he relocated to Arizona to be a cowboy. He lived his dream by working as a cowboy for a myriad of ranches in the valley. At the age of 20, he married the daughter of a Cave Creek rancher, Glodyne Smith. The newlyweds spent time on the rodeo circuit where Bill rode bulls and steer wrestled. After the rodeo circuit, he returned to cattle ranching until he went to work for Cypress Mining Company and then BP Petroleum in its mining operation in Bagdad, AZ as a welder. He and his wife retired in 1984 and permanently made Wickenburg their home in 1990. He enjoyed time with family, hunting, fishing, gardening, welding, and the Country Kitchen coffee club. Bill was a member of the Elks Lodge. He was preceded in death by his wife Glodyne Smith Cowley in 2014 and son Smith Gloyd Cowley in 1972. He is survived by his daughters Cindy Cowley Scarbrough of Phoenix, AZ, Candy Cowley Morgan of Parks, AZ, Sister-in-law Charlotte Webb of Phoenix, AZ, and grandchildren: Bill Cowley and Shawn Cowley, Michael Scarbrough, William Scarbrough, Callie Morgan, Charles Morgan, 11 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.