Sheila Gowen

Sheila Sue (Duncan) Gowen passed away at St. Joe Manor in Bonne Terre, Missouri, Nov. 24, 2023.

Sheila was born Dec, 13, 1943, in Bradford, Ark. to the late Meritt and Anna Bell Duncan. Sheila also was preceded in death by her older sister Annette (Duncan) Spradling. Sheila was a member of the Harviell Church of Christ.

At the age of 12 her family left Bradford and made a move to Harviell, Missouri due to her dad having a job with the Missouri Pacific Railroad (later Union Pacific Railroad) where he was a signal maintainer for over 30 years. Sheila attended Harviell Elementary School through the eighth grade. She went to Neelyville School all four years of her high school career, graduating in 1959. She spent the last two years of her school career married to the love of her life John Gowen. Sheila and John were married for over 64 years before her passing. They were very blessed in their life together. They had fun and enjoyed making a lifetime worth of memories.

Sheila and John were blessed with one wonderful son, Johnny Duane Gowen, born to them in 1965.

Duane and his wife, Deborah, Gowen have two children Ashley Ann (Gowen) Huebner and James Meritt Gowen. Ashley and her husband Patrick Huebner have two daughters Audrey Ann Huebner (16 years old) and Hattie Mae Huebner (12 years old). James and wife Jo Gowen have one daughter Ava Jo Gowen (2 years old).

Sheila spent a lot of her spare time watching old Western Movies and Cardinals baseball games, she was a huge fan. She liked to travel having visited almost every state in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Conway Twitty was by far her favorite county singer and her absolute favorite song was “Hello, Darlin.”

Sheila was definitely loved and will be very missed by her family and friends. She is now in Heaven with God and probably “Dancing with the Angels.” We love you sweetheart, bye-bye for now.

Visitation will be from 10 - 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 at Fowler and Sons Funeral Home followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Interment will be at Dunning Cemetery, Poplar Bluff. Bro. Robert Spradling will officiate.