Jo Ann McGowen, daughter of the late Everett and Myrtle Frye Hawkins, passed away Saturday, April 14, 2018. She was born April 15, 1932 in Kennett, Missouri.
On May 21, 1949, she married Roy McGowen in Poplar Bluff. He survives.
Mrs. McGowen was a full-time homemaker until her children attended school. She worked for the Poplar Bluff R-1 school district as a cook. She later worked at the Twin Towers Nutrition Center. In the early 1980s she was a partner with her husband in the ownership and operation of the Western Auto Store in Puxico, Mo. After their retirement from store ownership, she once again became a full-time homemaker.
Mrs. McGowen was a member of the Little Brushy Baptist Church. She attended until ill health made it impossible. While a member, she served as church treasurer, taught Vacation Bible School and sang in the choir. In later years she worked with the Children's Church.
Also surviving are the three children of her 69-year marriage to Roy: John and Rhonda McGowen; Michael McGowen and Brenda Sheridan, all of Poplar Bluff, as well as two grandsons: Joshua Sheridan of Grasonville, Maryland and Matthew McGowen of Poplar Bluff.
Two of her sisters survive: Pauline Ryan of West Covina, Calif. and Bonnie Thom of Poplar Bluff.
Mrs. McGowen was preceded in death by her parents, two grandsons, Jeremy and Justin McGowen, her daughter-in-law, Vicki Trout McGowen and her son-in-law, Marvin Sheridan.
Her sister, Lucille Hendrix and three brothers, Raymond Hawkins, Donald Hawkins and Robert Hawkins also preceded her in death.
The visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff with the funeral service following at 11 a.m. The Rev. Steve Patterson will officiate. Burial will be at Little Brushy Cemetery in Wappapello, Mo.
Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff, Mo. is honored to serve the family of Jo Ann McGowen; please visit www.cotrellfuneralservice.com to share memories or to leave a condolence message.
Paid