Matthew E. McGowan

Matt McGowan was born in Apple Valley, California on April 27th, 1964. His early years were marked by travel, moving from California to Kansas, Seattle and then Virginia as his father continued his Air Force career. Upon his father’s retirement, Matt moved with his family back to Seattle, where he remained for life. Matt was a graduate of Highline High School, Class of '82. He then entered vocational school in pursuit of a career in computer software, well before computers were “cool”. This period of his life was marked by good friends and a zest for life. He enjoyed building and racing cars, both on and off the track. Matt was offered a position with Boeing in 1989 and soon after, bought and restored a beautiful 1921 Craftsman house in South Seattle. Matt met Lisa Turner in 1994 and they were married in a ceremony at the Hollywood Schoolhouse in Woodinville on April 18th, 1998. Soon after, they moved into the former home of Lisa’s grandparents in Kirkland. Always a dreamer, Matt soon parlayed the Kirkland property to purchase a magnificent lot and plan a custom home in the Pikes Peak neighborhood of Bellevue, adjacent to Bridle Trails Park. Not one to stand by while others built their house to anything less than perfection, Matt took an active role in the management and construction of the home (as he was the only one who could deal with his exacting standards). Every detail was carefully planned and executed. With the house completed, Matt and Lisa filled it with the treasures and artwork that sparked their passion and represented their travels. For his part, Matt always embraced the finer things in life. It is doubtful that Bill Gates himself would have parted with the kind of cash that Matt spent on his home theater setup over the years. Well before home theaters were the mainstream, Matt (and any neighbors within 5 miles) experienced the splendor of hundreds of movies on his high-end audiophile system. He also enjoyed woodworking and learning a wide variety of new skills. Matt was taken suddenly, and much too soon. He passed on the 23rd of April, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Lisa, his mother Patricia and his brothers, Scott and Greg. For those that had the privilege to know and love him, this world will never be the same. In in lieu of flowers please make a donation to The Humane Society for Seattle/King County in Matt's name.