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Ozella Mae Gowen © Stephens-Key Funeral and Cremation Care Submitted by: Sharon
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Ozella Mae Gowen
May 12, 1936 - July 9, 2026
To many she was Ozella or Ms. Ozella, to her siblings she was Wiz, to three she was mom, to me and my cousins she was nana and for the last 18 years in our home she has been affectionately referred to as GG. It initially stood for Grandma Gowen to help differentiate her from the other grandmas in my kid's life, but it quickly shifted to stand for great grandma, which is a title she proudly wore. One name we never referred to her as, unless we wanted to get a rise out of her was Granny. What resulted from that name was a 4' 11" firecracker.
GG was not a large woman, but she was a force to be reckoned with in all the best ways. She loved her family fiercely and spent many years sacrificing her time and energy to support them in whatever ways she could. She was proud of her kids and all they had achieved and relished spending time with her grandkids even if that meant sitting in the bleachers watching them compete. She always enjoyed going back "home" and spending time with her brothers and sisters.
Though she and Papa lived in and explored a lot of the nation, their favorite place to be the piece of land they called home since 1988. To watch them tame the property and faithfully tend the ground that they called theirs for over 3 decades says much about who they are and the dedication they had to create a life for themselves. Ultimately it was this piece of ground she wanted to return to in her final year.
Just like the land, my life has been forever changed because of GG. She was one of my earliest friends, always up for a good time, maybe even a little mischief and always an adventure. From the countless car trips home from school throughout the countryside, to the couch cushion forts while I watched TV after school, to the weeks on end during the summer where I would stay with them while they were traveling, to the pierced ears - which we didn't have permission for, or the pet gerbil - which we also didn't have permission for, to her presence at my college ball games, my wedding and college graduation, to her visits after my children were born, to her presence at their birthday parties, my life is richer and far better because of GG and for that I am grateful!
Ozella is survived by her children: daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Paul Thompson, son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Sheila Gowen, son, Bruce Gowen; granddaughters: Kara Guffey, Jennifer Davis, Jenny Anderson, Ginger Williams, and Mindy Gregory; grandson-in-laws: Justin Guffey, Ross Anderson, Brian Gregory, Johnathan Davis, , great-grandsons: Ezra Guffey, Judah Guffey, Abraham Piper, Johnathan Davis, Jackson Anderson, Sam Anderson, Cal Anderson, Warren Williams, Raylon Gregory; great-granddaughters: Kyla Piper, Eliza Guffey, Lucy Anderson, Brooklyn Anderson, Adellyn Gregory, Jayden Davis; two brothers, Phillip and Butch Clowers; and one sister, Janet Randall.
Ozella was preceded in death by husband of 71 years, Donald Gowen; parents, Elgin and Essie Clowers; daughter-in-law, Cindy Gowen; and eight brothers and sisters.
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