Leta Darleen McGowen

Leta Darleen McGowen was born on December 17, 1933 in Houston, Texas to Glenn Maley , Sr. and Kittie Clements.She attended Stephen F, Austin High School and graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Special Education. She taught Special Education in the Pasadena School District for many years. Her husband was a Safety and Health Officer for an international construction firm

whose work required the family to move to locations where he was assigned.They moved to Bridge City, Texas where she continued to teach.

As a young girl her family lived in Genoa, Texas where she met her future husband. She had a passion for animals, especially horses and dogs. She had a saddle horse that she rode with her friends and future husband. She had a way with horses and dogs. She loved boating and water skiing on Clear Lake and at

their property in Marble Falls. She loved the outdoors, entertaining friends with barbecues and shrimp boils.

She married Russell Sherman McGowen in 1954 after he returned from serving with the U.S. Occupation Army in Austria after World War ll.

After retirement she and her husband moved in 1995 to Nacogdoches County near the Melrose community and enjoyed the peace and solitude of country living. She enjoyed trips to Shreveport, Louisiana and the casinos. She had a couple of miniature horses that were her pride and joy.

After her husband passed away she continued to live in their home until her health required her to move to an assisted living arrangement. She remained there until she was moved to Spring with her son and his family. After a lengthy stay at the Methodist Hospital-Willowbrook she returned to her son's home

under hospice care where she joined the heavenly host the evening of December 26, 2018.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Glenn Maley Jr. of Marble Falls, Texas and sister Colleen Rivers of Pasadena, Texas. She is survived by her daughter Susan Nelson and husband Paul of Nacogdoches, son Ross and his wife Patty of Spring, grandsons Ross Jr., Ryan, Sean, granddaughter Sydney Tully and husband Corey of Chireno, Texas, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.