Shirley McGowan

Shirley Marguerite McGowan (nee Tomlin) passed away gently with her family by her side on Tuesday, February 7th, 2023. Shirley was born on October 23, 1926 in Stratford.

She was the wife of the late Jack McGowan (1972) and dear friend of the late Alec Yule (1998).

She will always be cherished and remembered as a strong, loving mother by her children Edith McGowan and her partner Newman Parrott, Joan and her husband Dennis Reay, Edward McGowan and his wife Diane, George McGowan and his wife Lynda, Helen Hopkins and her friend Don Shane, and Jean McGowan. Proud grama of Julie and Jose Arostica, Greg and Janice Wells, Tim Reay, Susan and Dan Grubb, Eric McGowan, Ben and Amanda McGowan, Aaron McGowan, Andrea and Jason Watts, Jennifer McGowan, Mark Hopkins, Chris and Angela Hopkins, Lisa Ziegler and her fiancé Mike Ohlin, and Steven Ziegler. Great grama to Matthew and Katy Arostica, Cassie and Roberto Rubertone, Jessica Grubb, Spencer Watts, Ethan McGowan, Mason and Sam Hopkins, and great-great-grama to Olivia, Matthew, Elio, and Silvio. Predeceased by her son-in-law Brad Hopkins, her parents George and Marguerite Tomlin, her brothers Edward “Ted”, Jack, Glenn, and Ross and special sister-in-law Ilene Tomlin, Laura and Harry Hill, and Bob and Audrey McGowan.

Visitation will be held at the McCulloch-Watson Funeral Home, Durham on Thursday, February 9th from 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., followed by a funeral service celebrating Shirley’s life at 1 p.m. Spring interment at Durham Cemetery.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations to Trinity Anglican Church, Durham Food Bank or Durham Hospital Foundation would be appreciated by the family.