Rowena McGowen

July 25, 1922 - October 1, 2017

Rowena Pauline (Clark) McGowen, a resident of Okmulgee, went to be with her Lord on Sunday, October 1, 2017 in Okmulgee. She was born to the late Arthur Clair Clark and Ruby Emma (Murrell) Clark on July 25, 1922 on Tiger Mountain in Oklahoma. Polly was married to Willard Eugene (Gene) McGowen in Amarillo, Texas on May 14, 1942. She worked as a store clerk for Stewart Lucky, Ramseys, and the Green Stamp Store. Polly's passion was teaching and though she was unable to get her teachers degree she became a life long teacher of the Bible she loved so well. She taught Sunday School for 67 years in Texas, New Mexico, and Morris, Oklahoma. Her "girls" in the Lydia Sunday School class at the Trinity Baptist Church in Morris kept her young and vibrant. Polly and her friend Dixie Wilhite volunteered for the Red Cross and Rebold Manor. They visited every Tuesday for 40 years. They went from room to room filling ice pitchers and bringing cheer and laughter to those who needed cheering. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four brothers Paul, Bill, Bert, and Keith Clark, one infant daughter, who we know she is loving on now. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law Mike and Alice McGowen, five grandchildren Patty Payton and husband Greg of Billings, Montana, Kathy McGowen of Tulsa, Mitch, Malia and Micah McGowen of Dewar, Oklahoma, nine great grandchildren Tanner, Nathan, Joshua, and Paisley Payton, Kamry and Addison Joy McGowen, Matthew and Grahm Hayden and Brody Johnson, a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Polly's services will be held 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at the Trinity Baptist Church with Mike McGowen officiating, assisted by Randall Reeder of Chrystal Springs Chapel and Pastor Rex McDowell Chaplain for Okmulgee Chapter of Christian Motorcycle Association. Pallbearers will be Graham Hayden, Mitch McGowen, Micah McGowen, Phil Young, Dan Boydston and Jim Davis. Honorary pallbearers will be Matthew Hayden, Tanner Payton, Nathan Payton, Joshua Payton, and the Lydia's Sunday School Class. In lieu of flowers, she would love to see donations made to the Sunday School Department at Trinity Baptist Church in Morris, Oklahoma. Arrangements have been entrusted to the McClendon-Winters Funeral Home of Morris. Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on Rowena’s Tribute Page of our website at www.mcclendon-winters.com