Ray William Gowey of Joseph passed away on Tuesday, June 2, 1974 at Wallowa Memorial Hospital, where he had been a patient eight days. He had been in failing health for the past six months.
He was the son of Orlando and Margaret Gowey and was born at Flora on Feb. 27, 1901. He had lived most of his life at Flora and Troy, living for a time at Grass Valley, Calif. On Sept. 24, 1923 he was married at Enterprise to Opal A. Shuman who preceded him in death on June 13, 1962. He was a retired rancher.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Melvin (Margaret) Botts of Joseph; two brothers, Mark of Pomeroy, Wash., and Roy of Cataldo, Idaho, and seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Friday at 10 a.m. at the Bollman Chapel with the Rev. Edward J. Morrison officiating. Jeannette Powers was organist and Clifford Collinsworth sang “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” and “Beyond The Sunset.”
Casket bearers were: B.H. Swisher, Norman Lovell, Marion Shoopman, Dave Murrill, Chet Hafer and Lester Kiesecker; and interment followed at 2 p.m. in the Lewis-Clark Memorial Gardens at Lewiston, Ida.
Wallowa County Chieftain, Wallowa County, Oregon, Thursday July 11, 1974