Ola Mae McGowan

Mrs. McGowan was born in Watauga County, and was a daughter of the late Sion Gideon Moretz and Virginia Dare Stanberry Moretz. A graduate of Boone High School, she went on to receive her BS degree from ASU. Mrs. McGowan was an elementary school teacher for 33 years in the Caldwell County School system and often joked that she was never promoted from first grade. She loved all of her students and even in her later years could recall many of the students when she saw them in the community. She was also a Life Member of NEA, and NC Association of Educators, as well as NC Retired School Personnel and NC Retired Government Employees.

An active member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, she taught Sunday school, was a member of the Gladys Happer Women’s Circle, a member of the altar guild and worked on the church newsletters. She will be remembered as one that was meticulous with laundering and ironing the altar linens and polishing the brass, as well as communion preparation.

In addition to her loving husband, Edward (Mac) McGowan, she was preceded in death by an infant sister, Eleanor, and older sister, Mary Moretz Hubbard, as well as brothers, Blaine, Arlie, Herman, Avery, and Cecil Moretz, and an infant son, William Christopher Greer. She is survived by her twin sister, Ora Moretz Kincaid of Granite Falls, NC, and youngest sister, Hazel Moretz Dotson of Clemmons, NC. She was the loving mother to son, Ted Greer and wife, Merica, of Rock Hill, SC, Daughter, Virginia (Gigi) Duffey and husband, Larry, of Granite Falls, and son, Gerald McGowan and wife, Sherry of Apex, NC. She was the proud Mammaw to granddaughters, Alison Reeves and husband, Al; Shelly Oliver and husband, Mikel; and proud Mommom to grandsons, Allen Benfield and wife, Erika, and Scott Benfield and wife, Christy. She was also a great-grandmother to Tyler Oliver, Andrew Reeves, Lauren, Audrey, and Nathan Benfield, and Meredith and Grace Benfield. They were her little loves! She is also survived by her beloved pet dachshund, Scooter.

Ola loved her heavenly Father, her family, her church, and her community. She loved listening to gospel music and her favorite song was “I’ll Fly Away Oh Glory”.

She was an avid gardener and took such pride in her yard and garden. She believed in canning and preserving her own food and sitting down was just not an option. She contributed hard work to the longevity of her life. In her 94 years, she touched many lives and will be missed greatly.

A funeral service for Ola M. McGowan will be Saturday, April 19, 2014 at

St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Lenoir, NC at 2:00 PM.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM prior to the service.

Private burial with family will be held at Blue Ridge Cemetery prior to the service. Officiating will be Pastor Tony Bradshaw.

The family would like to thank those who shared many acts of kindness and love during our Mama’s illness. Special thanks go to her daughter and son-in-law, Virginia and Larry Duffey, for the loving care they gave her over these last years. She was spoiled and loved just as she had been by her loving husband, Mac. Also, a special thanks to the special nurses, Esther Clement and Kristy Rose, who cared for her with such kindness, dignity, love, and gentleness, and the wonderful nurses and staff at Caldwell County Hospice.

The family respectfully requests no flowers and asks that memorial contributions be made to St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 1406 Harper AV NW, Lenoir, NC, or Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood NW AV, Lenoir, NC.

Online condolences can be sent to the McGowan family at www.pendrysfuneralhome.com.

Pendry’s Lenoir Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Ola Moretz McGowan.