Stephen McGowan, 71, of Chattanooga, died on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at his residence, surrounded by his loving family.
He retired from Pilgrim Pride.
Stephen was baptized at an early age and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He loved God with all his heart and his family and friends. He graduated from Howard High Class of 1962.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Lillian McGowan; brothers, Archie, Daniel, Benjamin, Nathaniel McGowan; sister, Marie McGowan; stepmother, Eva Allen McGowan; sisters-in-law, Velma Jean Henderson, Evelyn McGowan and Janie Mae Ervin.
Survivors include his loving and devoted wife, for 36 years, Virginia McGowan; daughter, Patricia Davis; sons, Michael McGowan, Sr., Kevin McGowan; godson, Brad Doty; grandchildren, Michael Jr., Kyric, Kolby, Ashley; great-grandsons, Jayden and Ashton; sisters, Martha McGowan, Theresa (Emmitt) Ray, Johnnie Mae McGowan of Nashville; mother-in-law, Gertrude Henderson; sisters-in-law, Diane (Walter) Jones, Jeanetta Gilliam and Alice McGowan; brothers-in-law, Eugene Henderson, Richard Ervin; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends; devoted friends, Charles Campbell, Eugene Dennis and Robert Lewis.
Special thanks to Dr. Glenn Newman and Staff, Dr. William Oellerich and the staff of the Chattanooga Heart Institute and the staff of Nephrology Associates for the care provided to our father. We pray that God will continue to bless each of you.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25, at Olivet Baptist Church, 740 East M. L. King Boulevard, with Reverend Kevin Adams officiating. Interment will be in Lakewood Memory Gardens – East.
The body will lie in state after noon on Thursday, and the family will receive friends from 7–8 p.m. at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., 622-9995.