Louise McGowan

GAINSVILLE — Mrs. Louise Elizabeth (Westbrook) McGowan, 90,(formerly of Chattanooga, Tenn.) passed away Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, at The Bell Minor Home. A private service for the family will be held at the Columbarium Chapel at First Presbyterian Church, Gainesville, on Saturday, August 11, at 10 a.m. A Memorial Service will follow at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, with the Revs. Lee Koontz and Shon Peppers officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the Swetenburg Hall (Fellowship Hall). Louise was born Feb. 23, 1928, in Hall County, Ga., the daughter of the late Charles Joseph and Cora Elizabeth (Mauldin) Westbrook. Louise was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She is a graduate of Braselton High School, attended North Georgia College, received a B.S. in Home Economics from the University of Georgia, and did Graduate Work in Special Education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She was a teacher at Braselton High School, a Home Economist with the Georgia Power Company serving as the Supervisor for the Rome Division. Later, she also worked as a Behavior Specialist for Headstart for the Handicapped in Chattanooga. She was an ordained Elder and Deacon in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and a Stephen's Minister. She was active in Presbyterian Women and was awarded several lifetime memberships. She was a member of the Quota Club (Rome, Ga.) and the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed reading, cooking, sewing and traveling around the world. Louise was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Cora Mauldin Westbrook; an infant daughter, Mary Elizabeth McGowan; her sister Lida Westbrook Pirkle and her husband Jack; and her brothers Hugh and Cecil Westbrook, and their wives Ruth and Janet. She is survived by her husband of 58 years the Rev. Dr. Matthew McGowan; her daughter and son-in-law Julie and Kenny Akins of Lula; her son Jesse L. McGowan of Chattanooga; her son and daughter-in-law, Rev. Kennedy and Chantal McGowan of Plantation, Fla.; her daughter Anna Louise McGowan of Gainesville; and her daughter and son-in-law Rev. Rebecca (Becky) and Randy McGowan Spooner of Conway, Ark.; her grandchildren, Lauren Elizabeth Markovich of Gainesville, Colton Clark of Jacksonville, Fla., and Patrick McGowan of Plantation, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Housing and Healthcare Endowment Fund, First Presbyterian Church, 800 South Enota Drive, Gainesville, Ga. 30501. The family wishes to express deep gratitude to her pastors, the Revs. Lee Koontz and Shon Peppers; her physicians Dr. Richard Locicero, Dr. Andre Kallab, and Dr. Henry Lewis; the Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center; the wonderful staff at the Bell Minor Home; the residents of Smoky Springs and her church family and friends for all their love, care and support.