Mary Nell Toerne

Mary Nell (Monsen) Toerne of Evansville, Indiana and formerly of Henderson, Kentucky passed away at her home unexpectedly on the morning of Friday, December 13, 2024 from natural causes.

Born in Wichita Falls, Texas to Terrance Chandos Monsen and Barbara Jean (Hayes) Monsen, Mary was preceded in death by both her parents and grandmother Lorene (Tompkins) Hayes all from Henderson, Kentucky. Mary’s older brother, Randall Monsen, and her younger sister, Wendy Monsen (spouse David Austin Jr.) both currently reside in Henderson.

Mary graduated from Henderson County High School in 1979 and went on to study at the University of Texas. She had a long career in marketing and advertising for various national and local media companies, and she took up many hobbies over the years including personal fitness training and teaching aerobics at the YMCA.

Mary married Carson Cowan in 1980, and they had two beautiful daughters, Lindsay (Cowan) Mabry of Evansville/Henderson and Charly (Cowan) Pate of Henderson. She was blessed with two amazing grandchildren, Carmine Pate and Camber Pate, also from Henderson who called her Mimi, and she was the proud aunt to Sam Monsen of Reykjavik, Iceland, Robert Monsen of Louisville, KY, Kelley (Monsen) Scott of Warrensburg, Missouri, Austin Thomas of Richmond, Virginia and Jackson Austin of Louisville, Kentucky.

She was a long-standing member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Henderson before moving to Evansville in 2019. Mary’s spirit and faith were strong, and her family knows she is at peace with our Lord and Savior.

Mary’s final wishes were to be cremated, which will be handled by our friends at Tomblinson Funeral Home in Henderson, and to have her ashes scattered in a place of choosing by her daughters with close family members present. At this time, the family asks for prayers from each of you as they process Mary’s untimely passing.

Expressions of sympathy, encouragement and memories of Mary can be shared on her Facebook page which is now set to “In Memoriam” status or on Tomblinson’s webpage following the posting of her obituary.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for your support by adding Mary and all who loved her to your prayer lists or by donating in her name to your local church or favorite charity.

Thank you for helping us give Mary the send-off her special soul deserves – Godspeed.

With our love and gratitude…Mary’s Family