Do You Know WILLIE GOWIN?

Photos Supplied by Sonya Bannister and Angela Miller Brown

I have known of and known in passing Mr. Willie Gowin (And I know his last name is GOWIN and not “Gowins,” as I have heard many folks call him through the years.)—and well enough to “howdy” on the streets the past many years when I would see him in town. He always had a smile upon his face and was ready to share a few words. As infrequently as we saw each other the past years, I was always amazed that he knew I was Don Themer! Of course, to probably both of us, he was MR. GOWIN, and I was the “Themer boy.”

Not long ago, I received an e-mail from two of my “old” students and now friends, Sonya Bannister (FHS Employee) and Angela Miller, and I mean “old” as in ones I taught quite a few years ago, not old as in becoming gray and feeble! Well, Angela Miller (2001 FHS Graduate) Brown is married to Corey Brown (who attended Royse City Schools), and they live in Sunnyvale. Here is what the e-mail said…..

…..This is my Papaw… aka Brother Willie Gowin… I’m posting this in hopes that his family & friends see this…I think that he would be tickled to receive tons of birthday cards and pics of people that love him in the mail!!! It stinks that during this time we can’t throw him a big ole party but we have to keep him healthy and safe!!!...Feel free to share this with anyone that you know would love to send him a smile!!!...If you need his mailing address please message me!!!

And below this message was a photo and blurb that said the following: Look who turns 100 on Feb. 12th!!! Let’s flood his mailbox with Birthday Cards!!! Don’t forget to ad pics of you or your family so that he can feel like he got to see you!!! (I suppose I should tell you that I copied Angela’s message(s) just as she wrote them, as I noticed that she likes EXCLAMATION POINTS even better than I do!!!!!!)

THE STORY: It all began with Elbert and Celia Gowin long ago.

Then, Willie Jackson Gowin was born on February 12, 1921, in Jacksonville, Texas, and had a twin sister, Millie Gowin.

Willie grew up farming in Van Zandt County, and in 1953, his family moved to Forney, Texas, to be closer to his new job as a machinist (Alton Manufacturing Company for 18 years) in downtown Dallas. This also made familial sense, since his brother and other relatives also lived in Forney, and this meant they could all spend more time together. When he left Alton, Mr. Gowin went to work for Webon Manufacturing Company for 10 years.

After retirement, he continued to stay busy by helping the “elderly” with repairs in their homes and especially helped those “in need” who did not have heat during the cold weather!

In 1955, his father, Elbert Gowin, helped to “found” Forney Baptist Church under the direction of Pastor Odell Terrell. This church is now known as Fellowship Forney. At the time of its beginning, the congregation had a whopping twelve members, yes “12,” and they held their services under a tent until the new church building was constructed. To the best of my memory, it was first a Missionary Baptist church. Brother Harold Greenwood was at one time the minister, and the Dickerson family was a large and dedicated part of the congregation.

“Brother” Willie Gowin was ordained a DEACON during this historical time and was also Forney Baptist’s first song leader!

Some time passed, and Mr. Gowin met his wife-tobe, Mildred Lackey, and they were married in 1967. (I was a sophomore or junior in Forney High School at that time and remember reading about the wedding in the Forney Messenger, at least I think I did!) According to remembrances by Angela, her Papaw was the “model of a perfect husband.” Mildred passed away in 2013.

But let’s go back a little. Willie did not have any children “of his own,” but he took in Mildred’s children as his own and treated them as “blood.” Later on, the two of them also “took in” one of their granddaughters and raised her as well. It is and was always easy to notice and admire that Mr. Gowin was truly a “big family man” with a heart that was even larger!

For many years, Willie could be seen and identified as the “guy driving around Forney in his shiny blue ’66 Chevrolet Impala”—and his wife was always seated comfortably and happily by his side.

Even to this day, Mr. Gowin is musically inclined and can play the guitar, fiddle, piano, and harmonica (and play them well) as well as having a beautiful singing voice!

At one time, he was a member of a “bluegrass band” that called themselves “The Bluegrass Travellers.” They and he performed for many churches and bluegrass events. They even made a musical recording, and Granddaughter Angela recently found an old “A-Trac” recording of “The Bluegrass Travellers” and says she will “treasure it forever.” (A-Trac was what many folks “slangly” or regionally called 8-Track Tapes during their popularity, and I had an A-Trac Player in my ’69 Fairlane.

After 35 years as a member of Forney Baptist Church, Willie and Mildred decided to “move their membership” to Cottage Heights in Kaufman, where he was a Deacon and very involved with the activities of the Church. However, when his age started to “kick in,” making the drive to Kaufman harder, they moved their membership to First Baptist of Forney.

Today, Willie Gowin lives in the same house in which he “raised” his family, nurturing and supporting them. In his “spare time,” he loves to read his Bible, watch Church episodes on television, and both take things apart and then fix them.

But it seems rather apparent that what he most enjoys doing is spending time with his great-grandchildren, Zoey and Braylen. His eyes “light up” any time they walk through his doorway!

Not long ago, when asked what he wanted for his 100th Birthday, he replied, “I don’t know—I guess a few more years to live.”

So, CONGRATULATIONS to you, Mr. Willie Gowin, and may the Lord continue to bless you with being able to LIVE RICHLY until He calls you to Heaven!

And now, I will close with the sharing of two memories.

Nancy Gordon, a friend of Mr. Gowin: I call him “Papaw” because of my daughter, but Mr. Gowin is a very dear friend of mine, and he is just a wonderful dinner partner. I love hearing all of his stories. Oh, and he can fix just about anything you put in front of him!

Granddaughter, Angela Brown: My favorite memory with my Papaw is watching and listening to him play his guitar. We used to sing “Do, Lord” together like it was the only song known to man!