Obit of Gowan, Bethel Monroe - Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 04 Feb 2007 Return to Pottawatomie County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pottawatomie/pottawatomie.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Ceres Cemetery--Ceres CA Gowan, Bethel Monroe BETHEL MONROE GOWAN AUG 7, 1918 - NOV. 20, 2006 B.M. Mutt Gowan a resident of Ceres for over 60 years passed away Monday, November 20, 2006, at the Livermore Veterans Convalescent Hospital in Livermore, California. He was 88 years old. Mr. Gowan was a native of Oklahoma. He was born in Potowatomi County on August 7, 1918. He was the fourth of six sons and two daughters born to Stella and Allen Gowan. He was raised on the family farm near Tupelo Oklahoma. Mr. Gowan, along with his wife Vera, and young family came to Ceres in 1945 at the end of WWII. He was a US Army combat veteran who participated in the Battle of the Bulge and other campaigns during his time in the Army. He worked in heavy construction for many years and was a member of the Operating Engineers Union. He was quite proud of the work he performed on the Delta Mendota Canal. He operated the huge Trimmer, a machine that shaped and prepared the large canal for cementing. He later helped construct the initial Gallo Glass Plant in Modesto, and subsequently went to work for the bottle producing company. He retired in 1974 to raise beef cattle, fish and grow his garden. He was well known in the Ceres area for his winning smile, and for producing spectacular vegetables. He loved a good joke, and possessed a special sense of humor, one that matched his unique, and one of a kind personality. An avid fisherman up until his last years, he loved to fish with friends and relatives. He was a member of the Old Fishermen Club and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He played Ceres City League softball for the Ceres Legion team in the late 1940s and 50s. Mr. Gowan is survived by older brother, Roy Gowan, of Clearlake and daughters; Carolyn Hinkelman of Ceres, Stella Winn of Sacramento, Beth Moring of Ceres; and sons, Ed Gowan of Lakeside Oregon and Fred Gowan of Tracy. Additional survivors include numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Vera Gowan and grandchildren, Connie Young and Anthony Gowan. Public services will be conducted at 1:30PM on Friday, November 24, 2006, at the Franklin and Downs Funeral Home in Ceres. Private graveside service will follow at the Ceres Cemetery. Donations in the name of B.M. Gowan, can be made to the: VAPAHCS Disabled Veterans Fund, 4951 Arroyo Rd., Livermore, CA 94550. www.modbee.com/obituaries Published in the Modesto Bee on 11/22/2006. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Pottawatomie County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pottawatomie/pottawatomie.htm