Grace June McGowen

HAMILTON - Grace Berkley McGowen, 87, of Hamilton passed away February 20, 2017.  She was born June 19, 1929, in Evanston, IL, the daughter of Gerald and Francis (Doyle) Berkley. 

She attended Sacred Heart Academy and Barat College in Lake Forest, IL.  Subsequently, she married Thomas N. McGowen in 1948 when he returned from WWII where he was stationed in the Pacific.  They lived in Michigan while he attended law school on the GI Bill, and later returned to the Chicago area.  For fun she designed and sold three homes and moved to Barrington, IL, where they lived for 22 years and raised three children. 

She went back to college to obtain training in Special Education and volunteered her time using that knowledge and skill.  In 1978, they moved to Hamilton, Montana, where she volunteered for her church, Meals on Wheels, and Birthright.  She loved reading, travel and photography and gave slide presentations on her travels at the local library. 

She was preceded in death by her parents.  Grace is survived by her husband; her brother, Donald Berkley; son, Tom (Vicki) McGowen; daughters, Marsha McGowen and Lori (Gary) Gorman; her niece, Sheila (Walter) Berkley; as well as numerous grandchildren.  A private service will be held by the family.  In lieu of flowers, she preferred that memorials be made to St. Francis church, or the charity of the donor’s choice.