Ada Ann McGowan, formerly of Dexter, Mo., passed away April 10, in her home in Pagosa Springs, Colo. She was born Ada Ann Stephens on March 31, 1935 in Knox City, Texas to Helen and Jim Stephens.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, John Larry McGowan, who died in 2002. Prior to moving to Colo., she spent 25 years in Dexter, where she ran two businesses; The Calico Cottage in the 1970s and Homecoming, an antique store, in the 1990s. She was a long-term substitute at Dexter Middle School in the ‘80s.
McGowan wrote a lifestyle column, The Calico Clipboard, which ran in the Daily Statesman-Messenger during the late ‘80s and ‘90s.
She volunteered with First Baptist Church of Dexter’s youth ministry, teaching Sunday School, leading mission trips and directing Camp Dexter, the youth summer camp. She also stage-managed numerous Christmas pageants.
McGowan served on the board of the Stoddard County Children’s Home, the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board Global Advance Council and was a member of P.E.O.
At various times and locations, she taught special education and English and coached tennis. She was a church youth director, journalist and served as executive director of the Y.W.C.A. at the University of Missouri - Columbia. She was an avid antique collector, decorator, gardener and artist.
She was a graduate of Amarillo High School and Texas Tech University.
She is survived by her children: John McGowan of Marco Island, Fla., and his wife Marie McGowan; Shannon Powers of Camp Hill, Pa., and her husband, Peter Powers; and James McGowan of Rockwall, Texas, and his wife, Melissa McGowan. She is also survived by her sister, Jamie Stephens of Carrizozo, NM, and eight grandchildren; Casey and Shelley McGowan of St. Louis, Mo.; Devon and Colin Powers; and Stephen, Matt, Mindy and Katie McGowan.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, April 16 at 2 P.M. at First Baptist Church, Dexter.
Memorial gifts may be made to First Baptist Church Youth Ministry, 11 W. Castor St., Dexter, MO 63841; or CenterPoint Church Youth Ministry, 2750 Cornerstone Dr., Pagosa Springs, CO, 81147.
