Ruby Gowen

Mrs. Ruby Gowen passed away Thursday morning, December 10, 2015, at Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville, Fl. She was 96 years old. She was born in Kingsland, Ga. on March 9, 1919 to the late Ward W. and Eva Bunkley Harrison. After graduating from Kingsland High School, Mrs. Ruby moved to Folkston, Ga. with her family and worked with her father at his newspaper, The Charlton County Herald, and at the local Post Office. She married J.V. Gowen, Jr. on October 8, 1937. Along with other relatives, J.V. and Ruby operated the Folkston Grain and Grocery. She was also a bookkeeper for the family’s timber business. After starting her own family, she devoted herself to her husband and children.

Mrs. Ruby was a member of the Folkston United Methodist Church and attended both Folkston United Methodist Church and Prospect Methodist Church as long as she was able. She taught Sunday School and was a member of the United Methodist Women. She loved to garden both flowers and vegetables, was a member of the Garden Club, and insisted on canning vegetables as long as she was able. She was an avid reader and enjoyed sewing and designing clothes. She loved to share her memories of friends, brothers, and sisters. She was a great cook and took pleasure in cooking for so many at family gatherings. Above all, “Gagi,”  as she was known by family and friends, loved being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She watched over three generations - loving her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They also loved her.

Surviving Mrs. Ruby are her daughter, Mary Eve Blair(Leslie); son, John(Debbie); brother, Kenneth Harrison(Jean); grandchildren, Danon Middleton(Cord), Rhonda Murray(Russ), Beth Coleman(Matthew), Tara Blair, Jenny Gowen(John Kinder), Jim Gowen(Mandy), and Andy Gowen(Ashley); great-grandchildren, Spencer, Carson, and Reese Middleton; Hank and Ellie Murray; Ruby, Sam, and Harry Coleman; Julianna and Charlie Gowen; and Finley and Chase Gowen; our Uncle Harold and Aunt Ann, many loving nieces and nephews; “The Girls’”; companions, Lucinda, Denise, Faith, Elvira, and Vertie; and many wonderful friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, J.V. Gowen, Jr., their daughter, Sandra, their son, Kenny, and her siblings, Jessie Mae Pickren, Robert Harrison, and Ethel Gowen.

Visitation with the family will be Saturday, December 12, 2015 at Mrs. Ruby’s home from 5-8 pm. Funeral services will be at the Folkston United Methodist Church Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 3 pm, with Rev. Jack Varnell officiating. Burial will follow at Pineview Cemetery in Folkston, Ga.

Condolences may be expressed by signing the guest registry at www.shepardfh.com.
Folkston United Methodist Church and Prospect Church were organizations near and dear to Mrs. Ruby’s heart. Arrangements are under the direction of Shepard Funeral Home, Folkston, Georgia.