Gowan, James Cecil

James Cecil Gowan - age: 86
(September 03, 1924 to February 28, 2011 )
Resident of Philo, California

Obituary:
James (Jim) Cecil Gowan

James (Jim) Cecil Gowan, born in Ukiah September 3, 1924, died at his home in Philo on February 28, 2011. He was the youngest and last surviving of Cecil and Alice Gowan’s five children. He lived his entire life on the farm near Philo, except for the three years he served our country in the Army Air Corps during World War II from 1943 to 1946. He graduated from Anderson Valley High School in 1942. On May 23, 1946, he married Josephine Hackley of New Mexico. After the war, James and Jo formed a business partnership with Cecil and Alice, creating M. Cecil Gowan and Son, which later became Gowan Orchards. In 1950, they built the fruit stand, Gowan’s Oak Tree, beside the tree where Alice had sold produce since 1930. In 1947, their first of seven children, a son, was born.
James was a member of many boards, committees, and organizations. Among them were the American Legion, the Anderson Valley Farm Center, and the Mendocino County Historical Society. He served as a representative and as president of the Mendocino County Farm Bureau. He also represented the Lake County/Mendocino County District to the California Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors. He was a member of the Boonville Methodist Church, where he served on the Board, often attending the Northern California/Nevada Conference annual meeting as a delegate. He was a member of the Early Apple Advisory Board and the chairman of the California Apple Advisory Board. He was on the school board and was a sports booster at the local junior high and high school. In later years, he participated in the Farmers Market, managed one of the weekly markets, and served on the advisory board. He was named the Mendocino County Agriculturalist of the Year by the 12th District Fair.
In his younger days, he was a square dancer with the Redwood Squares in Anderson Valley. He played baritone tuba in the high school band and was recognized as one of the best players in the state.
He is survived by Josephine, his wife of 64 years; his seven children and their spouses, Cecil and Sue Gowan, Henry Gowan, Raymond and Karen Gowan, Carl and Donna Gowan, Vivian Gowan and Roland Garrison, Grace and Otilio Espinoza, Donald and Sharon Gowan; 24 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 2 p.m. at the Boonville Methodist Church. Donations can be made to the Alice Gowan Memorial Scholarship c/o Savings Bank of Mendocino County or to the Anderson Valley Ambulance Service.
Eversole Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.