Carolyn Jewel Mcgowan

ROCKFORD Carolyn Jewel McGowan, 67, passed away June 30, 2010, in Rosewood Care Center. Born March 1, 1943, in Princeton, Ill., to Phillip "Vaughn" and Helen (Erickson) Sawlaw. Carolyn graduated from Mendota High School in 1961. She moved to Rockford to attend the Swedish-American Hospital School of Nursing, where she graduated in 1964 as a registered nurse. She worked as a nurse at SwedishAmerican Hospital from 1964 until her retirement in 1995, spending most of those years in the maternity ward. Carolyn married James C. McGowan on Oct. 9, 1965, in Mendota. She was a member of Our Masters United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir, played flute in the orchestra, taught Sunday School and, for several years, prepared and served after-worship cookies, coffee and her famous punch. She loved reading, quilting, reciting old poems from memory, walking her dogs (Penny, Holly and Molly), tending her flower gardens and filling her home with decorative lambs of all kinds. Survived by husband, Jim, of Rockford; sons Mark (Christy) of Rockford and U.S. Naval Cmdr. Kevin (Effie Marie) of Oak Harbor, Wash.; and grandchildren Carter and Darby McGowan of Rockford and Morgan and Catherine McGowan of Oak Harbor. Predeceased by parents. Funeral service at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 8, 2010, in Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Road, with the Rev. David Poust, Christ United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial in Restland Cemetery, Mendota, Ill. Visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home and from 10 a.m. Thursday until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Our Masters United Methodist Church, 5973 Darlene Dr., Rockford, Ill., 61109. Express condolences and share memories at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.