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In memory of

Earl Ruffuss Gowan

Zachary, LA, USA

December 20, 1931 - January 31, 2021

Dec 20, 1931 - Jan 31, 2021

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Earl R. Gowan
A resident of Zachary LA died Jan. 31, 2021 at The Hospice of Baton Rouge after contracting the Covid-19 virus only three weeks earlier, he was 89. He was born on Dec. 20, 1931 in Bemis Tennessee to Earl Vance Gowan and Julia Ann Garrett Gowan and was raised there until he joined the army during the Korean War conflict. He worked in the sheet metal business most of his life but his true calling was in mechanics, he could build or restore anything. After retirement, he focused on restoring antique tractors, with some notoriety. He got his first guitar from Carl Perkins, singer/song writer of Blue Suede Shoes, their mothers were friends. He became an avid country guitar player and loved to jam and sing with his friends every chance he could. He enjoyed and taught sky diving as a master sky diver. He earned his pilot’s license and built his own small airplane that passed inspection. He is preceded in death by his four older sisters of Tennessee, a son Richard Lance Gowan of Taos NM and his loving wife of 36 years, Wanda Barrow Gowan of Zachary LA. He is survived by four daughters through his first marriage, Dixie D. Mills, Lisa G. Vanderwater of Washington, Julie G. Hancock and Brenda G. Roberts of Montana, all five children attended Baker High School in Baker LA. His final wishes were to have his ashes buried at his parent’s grave site in Bemis Tennessee. Charlet Funeral Home in Zachary attended.

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