Willie Jackson Gowin

Funeral services for Mr. Willie Jackson Gowin, 100, of Forney, will be held 2 pm Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at First Baptist Church of Forney with Bro. Jerry Griffin officiating. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery in Forney.

Mr. Gowin passed away January 6, 2022 in Forney. He was born February 12, 1921 in Jacksonville, TX to Elbert and Celia Ann Phillips Gowin.

Willie grew up farming in Van Zandt County. In 1953, he moved to Forney. Willie worked as a machinist for many years. He was a real life "MacGyver" who could take anything apart and repair it. Willie's father helped found Forney Baptist Church where Willie served as the first song leader and also as an ordained deacon. Some time passed and he met his wife-to-be, Mildred Lackey, and they were married in 1967. They later moved their membership to Cottage Heights in Kaufman and then after several years decided to become members of The First Baptist Church in Forney. Willie was an extreme family man and proudly took on the responsibility of raising the younger children of his wife as well as their granddaughter. He enjoyed reading his Bible, listening to Bluegrass and playing his fiddle and guitar. His passion was his church, his wife and his family.

Mr. Gowin is preceded in death by his parents, Elbert and Celia Gowin; wife, Mildred Gowin; brother, Hollis Gowin; twin sister, Millie McDonald; sister, Lillie Cantrell; Mildred's children: Lou Edith Miller, Wayne Miller, Micky Miller, Ricky Miller, Willie Miller; grandson, Ryan Wayne Miller; and granddaughter, DeAnna Duggan.

Willie is survived by his granddaughter he raised as his own daughter, Angela and Corey Brown and their children, Braylen and Zoey Brown of Mesquite; Mildred's children whom he loved as his own: Linda Miller of Forney, Dewey and Sarah Miller of Sacul, David Miller of Forney, and James Miller of Fate; a multitude of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.