Anna Mae McGown, 86, died Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at Calder Woods in Beaumont, Texas. She was born August 23, 1920 in Stowell, Texas. She was a direct descendant of James Taylor White who first came to Texas in 1819. White’s Ranch along the Gulf Coast of Southeast Texas is the oldest Anglo-owned ranch in the state. The ranch has been owned and managed for over six generations by descendants of James Taylor White.
Anne grew up in Stowell, Texas; her father was a rancher in Chambers County. Often her family would give teachers in Chambers County room and board. In the summer of 1936 her father brought home a “new comer” to Chambers County, a young man who had recently been transferred to work as a clerk for the Humble Oil Company. Since he had no place to live, her family took him in. He was Paul McGown. He soon became the most popular man around the house.
Anne attended Texas State College for Women in Denton, Texas for two years and then transferred to Sam Houston University, from which she graduated in 1942. Anna and Paul married during Christmas vacation in 1941.
Before moving from Stowell, Anne and Paul were involved in beginning the construction of Winnie Stowell Methodist Church. Upon moving to Beaumont, they became active members of First United Methodist Church. When it was determined that Beaumont needed a new “west end” church, they helped organize and were charter members of Trinity United Methodist Church. Anna has been a member of Trinity for over fifty years.
During the years, Anne taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, chaired the Friendship Class Bazaar, worked on the Building Committee, Needlepoint Guild and served on the Trinity Day School Board. She was always there when the church called. Anne is probably best known for her fabulous cooking and her eagerness to share this talent with others. Whenever the church needed a cook, she was there. She was named Mother of the Year in 1999.
She has been a member of the Magnolia Garden Club and the Junior League of Beaumont, and she has served on the board of Buckner’s Children’s Village.
Anne dearly loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren all learned early in life that if they needed something they could call Gammy. She sat through hundreds of ball games, dance recitals and school plays.
Anne was preceded in death by her loving husband, Paul McGown. She is survived by three children, Mike McGown and his wife Lynn, Pat McGown and his wife D’Anne, and Mary Beth Messina and her husband Joseph all of Beaumont; six grandchildren, Mallory McGown of Houston, Michael McGown of London, England, Brent Messina of Houston, Greg Messina and his wife Ashley of Beaumont, Patrick McGown of Dallas, and Mark Messina of Houston; and four great grandchildren, Olivia McGown, Jay Paul Rauscher, Jordan Rauscher and Georgia Messina.
The family would like to thank Anne’s caregivers, Myrtle Pickney and Thelma Stredic, as well as the employees of Calder Woods and Odyssey Healthcare of Beaumont.
Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 2, 2007 at Trinity United Methodist Church followed by burial at Forest Lawn Memorial Park under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. Michael McGown, Brent Messina, Greg Messina, Mark Messina, Patrick McGown, and Jay Paul Rauscher will be serving as pallbearers. Herb Hennington, Ed Thorpe, Frank Easley, Curtis DeMoss, John Jordan, and Ed Curtis will be serving as honorary pallbearers. A gathering of family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 1, 2007 at the mortuary.
Those wishing to make contributions may to so to Trinity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 5247, Beaumont, Texas 77726.
