Shad Philip Cowden

Shad Philip Cowden was born on September 10, 1974, in Pasadena, Texas. Shad died on January 25, 2025, at St. Luke's Hospital TMC, Houston, Texas, of a heart attack. He was 50 years old.

Shad was a self-employed carpenter. Most recently, he remodeled homes and commercial businesses. For a few years, though, while he was needed at home, he worked at the Discovery Green Hilton as a bartender. He enjoyed the people he worked with there. Shad met and talked with many interesting people from different cultures and walks of life including professional athletes, actors, politicians, and foreign travelers. Shad enjoyed boating, sports, body building and travel as a young man. Lately, he was interested in music, podcasts, cooking, and especially enjoyed family get-togethers for meals or casino games.

Shad dedicated his life to helping other people, not for fortune or fame. Whenever he saw someone in need or in pain, he would do what he could to ease it. His focus and commitment to that Christian ideal has been an inspiration to all of those around him. 

Shad was very devoted to his family and he put the family above all else. He was always patient, kind, tender-hearted. He had a great sense of humor and was a lot of fun, like his aunt Doris. When they were together, they were very funny people, and a comedy show would always follow those two. We are going to miss him so much. 

Shad was preceded in death by his stepfather, Neil Koutnik (1956-2017) and his uncle, Tom Greathouse (1952-2024). He is survived by his loving mother, Kathryn Koutnik of LaPorte, Texas and his favorite aunts, Doris Hickman and Helen Caudle of Centerville, Texas. Shad grew up with, and has always had a very close relationship with his cousin, Theresa Hickman-Lee, her husband, James Lee, and second cousin, Austin Hickman-Lee, of Deer Park, Texas. There are many more cousins, and second cousins across Texas and Oklahoma. 

Good friends Destiny, Alicia, Robert B. and Jay, thank you for all your prayers and encouragement. The family would like to thank all the people (so many) in Centerville for their kind words and prayers. 

To the wonderful, caring, health care teams at St. Luke's TMC, as well as Dr. Carl Tong and Dr. Mays, at St. Joseph Hospital, Bryan, Texas, thank you very much for all you did for Shad.

On Saturday, February 1, 2025, the family will receive friends at 12:30pm in the Chapel at Deer Park First Baptist Church, located at 438 E. 8th Street, Deer Park, Texas 77536, with the memorial service immediately following.