Gretha E. Mcgowan

Gretha Elverine McGowan, daughter of the late Leonard D. and Cleta Nadine (McCall) Williams, was born on February 18, 1931 in the Fowler Community in Texas County, Missouri, and departed this life on April 15, 2007 in the National Health Care Center in West Plains, Missouri, following a long illness. She was 76 years, 1 month, and 12 days of age.
Gretha grew up and attended school in the Fowler and Mtn. Grove Communities. She was united in marriage to Walter Leslie “Bud” McGowan on October 20, 1947 in Hartville, Missouri. Nine children were born to this union. They raised their family on a farm near Mtn. Grove, Missouri where they lived for over forty years.
Gretha was a true homemaker who enjoyed taking care of her family and spending time with them. She enjoyed singing, cooking, swimming trips, car shows, parades, and video taping her family, farm, and trail rides. She was also involved in a quilting club at the Fairview Church.
She was a long time member of the Fairview Pentecostal Church and enjoyed attending services as long as her health permitted.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband: Walter “Bud” McGowan on December 3, 2004.
She is survived by her six sons: Buddy McGowan and his wife Betty, Gene McGowan and his wife, Pam, Kenny McGowan, Keith McGowan and his wife, Maggie, Randy McGowan, and Garth McGowan and his wife, Amy, all of Mtn. Grove, Missouri; her three daughters: Janice Ramaeker of Mtn. Grove, Missouri, Julie Berkbigler and her husband, Bill, of Pleasant Hope, Missouri, and Dana Harrah and her husband, Paul, of Rolla, Missouri; four sisters: Gwen Wakeman and her husband, Bruce, of Poulsbo, Washington, Geneva Ellis and her husband, Arlie, of Mtn. Grove, Missouri, Geraldine Barnett and her husband, Jack, of Norwood, Missouri, and Genevieve Ellis of Mtn. Grove, Missouri; thirty-four grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; and a host of other relative and friends who will sadly miss her.
Funeral services for Gretha McGowan were held Thursday, April 19, 2:00 PM in the Dawson Assembly of God Church with Rev. Bythel Friend, Rev. Derrel Friend, and Rev. Sterling Prock. David and Darlene Gourley sang “Farther Along,” “Beulah Land,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Sheltered In The Arms Of God.” Pallbearers were Douglas Ellis, Brent McGowan, Jamie McGowan, Darrin McGowan, Travis McGowan, A.J. Ellis, and Richard McGowan. Burial was in the Rock Springs Cemetery under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mtn. Grove, Missouri.


Services: Thursday, April 19, 2007 2:00 PM Dawson Assembly of God Church
Visitation: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 6:00PM - 8:00 PM Craig-Hurtt Chapel