Shirley May Denney Gowan

Shirley died peacefully surrounded by loving family and the kind staff of her assisted living facility on the morning of November 17, 2022. Shirley Mae Denny was born at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Havre in 1935. She initially lived on a ranch with her parents William Curtis Denney and Rose Etta Putra Denney but later moved to Chinook. She graduated from Chinook High School.

Shirley was a loving wife of 71 years to her husband, Walter Garrett Gowan, Sr. Walt and Shirley married April 7, 1951, in Havre, Montana and had three sons. Shirley accompanied her Air Force husband to multiple bases throughout the western US, France, Germany, and Hawaii finally settling in Universal City, Texas where they resided for over 40 years.

Besides being a military wife and mother of 3 rambunctious boys, at various times she was a bookkeeper, a cub scout den mother, a licensed hair stylist with her own shop, a successful realtor and property manager. She also enjoyed many years as an avid bowler.

Shirley was a long-standing member of the Universal City Methodist Church and choir. She gained notoriety for the church spaghetti fund raisers where her sauce was sought after by many. To this day, the recipe is still a secret.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Walter Gowan Sr. of Universal City Texas, her two sons and their wives, Walter Gowan, Jr. and Christie Cockrell Gowan of Saint Petersburg, FL. And Wayne Gowan and Kelli Wieland Gowan of San Antonio, Texas. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Julia Gowan (Andrew Peter) Elosge of Saint Petersburg, FL. Christopher (Esther Cha) Gowan of Saint Petersburg, FL. Jason Wayne (Leslie Hernandez) Gowan of San Antonio, Texas and Cody Garrett Gowan (Andrew Greene) of Austin Texas and six great grandchildren.

Shirley will be remembered by her family as a woman who cared for her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, her beautiful flower garden, and her beloved furry and feathered friends. Shirley’s remains will be interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery along with her husband upon his death.