William "Butterfly" Cowan

William “Butterfly” Cowan of Willcox passed away in Tucson, Tuesday evening, January 17, 2023, at the age of 91. He was born Gladiola, New Mexico on November 4, 1931, to Earnest Cowan and Mittie Louise (Donnell) Cowan. At the age of 6 he moved with his family to San Marcos, Texas where Butterfly grew up. At the age of 15 he hitchhiked to Tucson and worked at Kinsley’s Ranch, south of Tucson at Amado where Butterfly oversaw running the Rodeos which were very well known with all the cowboys in Arizona in the winter months. In 1950, Butterfly heard that a movie company was hiring extras who could ride horses and his first movie was Winchester 73, filmed in Tucson with Jimmy Stewart and Shelly Winters where Butterfly was an Indian extra. He continued to work in films across Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, to name a few, (Across the Wide Missouri) with Clark Gable, (Fort Defiance) with Peter Graves, (The Last Outpost) with Ronald Regan, (Naked Spur) with Jimmy Steward, (The 3:10 to Yuma) with Glenn Ford, (Oklahoma) with Shirley Jones, (Guns of Fort Petticoat) with Audie Murphy who he developed long time friendship with Butterfly. In 1958 Butterfly did his last movie with John Wayne call Rio Bravo, he also worked on several T.V. series such as Rawhide, Gunsmoke and Wagon Train. In the fall of 1960 Butterfly came to Willcox where he began to lease small ranches and many pastures to run cattle. He also worked for Tom Selman who was one of the largest cattle buyers in the area, and Butterfly was in charge of the cattle shipping over 10,000 head of cattle a year. In 2001, Butterfly was inducted in the Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame. He was a lifelong cattle man and stuntman. Survivors include his Life Partner/Wife Carol L. Adcock of Willcox, children Cody Beth (Dick) Eastman of Powell, Wyoming, Bradley (Caroline) Cowan of Tucson and Justin C. Adcock of Brighton, Colorado. He is also survived by his granddaughter Lacey (Doug) Kremer and great grandchildren Caylee Jo, Audrey, Colton and Mary and his grandson G.W. (Katie)Eastman and greatgrandchildren Riley and Luke, and his grandson Beau Cowan and great grandson Dustin Cowan. Preceding him in death was his parents , his first wife and mother of his children Patsy , his second wife Martie and 11 siblings. Memorial Services will be 10:30 am on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Westlawn Chapel.

William "Butterfly" Cowan

November 4, 1931 - January 17, 2023