Raymond James McGowan

Raymond (Ray) James McGowan, 68, of Grapevine, TX passed onto our Lord on Sunday, July 2, 2017. A Funeral Mass is scheduled for 11:00 am CST on Friday July 7, 2017 at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church located at 861 Wildwood Lane, Grapevine, TX 76051. Father James Flynn will be presiding over the mass and all are welcome to join. Ray was born on July 17, 1948 to the loving parents Raymond James McGowan and Lois Marie McGowan in Joliet, Illinois. Ray was challenged with a penicillin overdose at the age of 2 which caused great damage to his eyes and mucus membranes which later caused Ray to fight for his sight with dozens of surgical procedures over his lifetime, but as always, Ray persevered and was fighting his eye damage to his very last day with us. Raymond grew up in Joliet, Illinois with his family of 9 and attended grade school through high school in the area, graduating from Providence Catholic High School in 1966. After High School Ray briefly attended Bradley University in Chicago, Illinois but ultimately returned to his love of iron working which filled his craving for hard work and being his father’s right-hand man on the jobsite. Ray was well known for his love of fast cars previously owning a 1967 Chevelle SS, a 1970 Chevelle SS, a 1969 El Camino SS, a 1967 Corvette, a 1969 Rivera, and a 1989 Ford F-150, he meticulously cared for his vehicles his entire life and loved to drive. Ray moved to Australia in the early 1970’s where he lived with his former wife Margaret Marie Costello for 3 years. During his time in Australia he worked at an iron ore mine in Paraburdoo, Western Australia, served on the Paraburdoo Volunteer Fire Department, and loved the culture and people of the region, he always wanted to return. Ray and Margaret had their daughter Colleen Shivaun McGowan on June 01, 1975 while in Australia and returned to Joliet, Illinois when she was 2 in 1977. Ray came back to his career as an iron worker when he went home to Illinois and on April 19, 1978 he and Margaret gave birth to their son Shane Thomas McGowan. Ray moved his family to Rowlett, Texas in the early 1980’s and became a construction foreman for John Burns Construction Company, working with his longtime friend Bob Erickson, and later with his son Shane McGowan as his right-hand man. Ray and Margaret divorced in 1983 and Ray won full custody of both Colleen and Shane whom he raised with love until they became adults. Ray moved with Colleen and Shane to Grapevine, Texas in 1985 where he lived until his death in 2017, and was very proud of the community, its people, the friends he made while here, and most importantly how great of a place it was to raise his children. While in Grapevine, Ray was a loyal parishioner at Saint Francis Catholic Church and served over 30 years as an usher. Ray was also very active in Boy Scout Troop 7 which is sponsored by Saint Francis, and where he and his son Shane spent many fun and cultivating years while Ray served as an Assistant Scout Master. Ray retired with disability from John Burns Construction Company in the early 2000’s for eye damage caused by a cave in he was involved in, and finished his life as a handy man serving the Grapevine community. Ray was a long-time member of the Founding Saint Francis Singles Group and the Grapevine Wine Pouring Society, he made life-long friends at both who he still loves today. Ray was diagnosed with Bile Duct Cancer in late March of 2017 and fought the disease until the very end of his life on July 02, 2017, he asks that everyone take pre-screening seriously, for early cancer detection, so you can maximize time with your family. Ray should be remembered as a strong, loving, tough, forgiving, and caring man that always put the needs and wants of his family and friends first. Raymond James McGowan was preceded in death by his brothers Mickey McGowan and Kevin McGowan along with his father Raymond McGowan of Joliet, Illinois. Ray is survived by his Mother Lois McGowan of Joliet, Illinois; his Brother Daniel McGowan and wife Debra of Jacksonville, Florida; his Brother Patrick McGowan and wife Terry of Naperville, Illinois, his Sister Mary Sue Alessio of Rochester, Minnesota; his Brother Jay McGowan of Fort Worth, Texas; his daughter Colleen Freund, his Granddaughter Rachel Wahnefried, his Grandson Tristan Park, his Grandson Jacob Park, his Grandson Simon Freund of Illinois; and his son Shane McGowan, wife Candace, and his Granddaughter Eleanor McGowan of Grapevine, Texas. In lieu of flowers Raymond and the family would prefer donations to any of the following organizations, or one that you know that is researching a cure for cancer: American Cancer Society https://donate3.cancer.org/?campaign=CY16MemPage&giftType=mem Mayo Clinic Cancer Center https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/donate?_ga=2.240558147.1940273215.1499357858-597324836.1499357858