Gay Gower

Gay Gower, 86, of Tecumseh, Oklahoma passed from this life Sunday, January 12, 2020 in Shawnee. 

She was born August 1, 1933 in Lindsay, Oklahoma to O.L. and Mable (Thomas) Green. 

Gay was raised in Lindsay and graduated from Central High School in Oklahoma City.  She attended the University of Central Oklahoma and earned a double major, music and a minor in Elementary Education.  She did her graduate work at University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University in Remedial Reading and Colorado State University in Remedial Reading and Psychology. 

She married Ray Eugene “Gene” Gower on May 29, 1954 in Edmond, Oklahoma.  He preceded her in death on November 28, 2001. 

Gay taught school for 36 years and was a counselor for 18 years.  She taught at Stroud, Tecumseh, Perry, Lacey, Manchester and Seiling schools. 

Gay was a member of Broadway United Methodist Church in Tecumseh for many years. She was a proud member of the Choctaw Nation and very proud of her Native American heritage. Gay served as Chairman of the Post Dispositional Review Board, served 2 terms as President of the Tecumseh Garden Club, served on the Tecumseh Cemetery Board, elected as Teacher of Year twice, played in and directed the Oklahoma Kiltie Band, was an Honorary Member of the Tecumseh Alumni Association, member of the Oklahoma Coaches Association, Oklahoma Teachers Association, member of Oklahoma Education Association, Oklahoma Retired Educators Association, and life member of Central High School Alumni Association. 

She loved to paint, sew, garden herbs and do crafts.  Gay also enjoyed giving seminars and workshops on growing and using herbs.  She enjoyed cooking and canning with her herbs and sharing with others was a great enjoyment.  Gay’s husband, children and grandchildren were the great loves of her life and she enjoyed attending all their activities.  She was a football fan first and foremost, but enjoyed all competitive sports.  Also collecting antiques were high on her list of enjoyment.  

She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Gene Gower; parents, O.L. and Mable Green; brother, A.R. “Buck” Green; and sister-in-law, Cleo M. Green. 

Those left to cherish her memory are her two sons and two daughters-in-law, Andy and Sue Gower of Konawa, OK and Grant and Paula Gower of Tecumseh, OK; five grandchildren, Ty and Natalie Gower of Princeton, Texas, Allyson Gower of Konawa, Okla., Matthew Gower of Tecumseh, Okla., Cami and Garrett Sayre of Shawnee, Okla. and Macy Gower of Stillwater, Okla.; three great-grandchildren, Greyson Gower, Chloe Gower and Melody Sayre; 1 brother and 1 sister-in-law, Thom and Peggy Green of Poteau, Okla.; and many loving friends and extended family. 

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, January 18, 2020 and from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, January 19, 2020 and continue through service time.  Family gathering to greet friends and family will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sunday, January 19, 2020 at Cooper Funeral Home.  Service will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 20, 2020 at Cooper Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Stephanie Stephens, Broadway United Methodist Church in Tecumseh and Reverend Will Bentley officiating.  Burial will follow at Tecumseh Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.