Funeral for Earnest Harold Gowan will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 28, 2016 in the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Randy Shorter officiating.
Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Earnest Harold Gowan, age 91, Lawton, passed away November 21, 2016, in Lawton. He was born March 17, 1925, to Victor Thomas and Maureen Vivian (Kidd) Gowan. He was born on the family farm three miles south of Pumpkin Center on Highway 65.
Earnest was the fifth of six children and spent most of his early life helping his father on the farm. Earnest dropped out of school to devote more time to farming when his older siblings left the farm to start their own careers and families.
In June, 1949, while working for an electrical contractor, Earnest came into contact with a 7200 volt power line. He spent three and a half months in the hospital and his left arm was amputated two inches below the elbow and his right hand was paralyzed. While in the hospital, Earnest had a nurse tape a pencil to his paralyzed right hand so he could learn to write. In November, 1949, he went to work as a night watchman for a building contractor. Having access to all kinds of tools, Earnest taught himself to operate several power tools and began building furniture.
In 1950 Earnest was hired by Civil Service, where he worked for twenty-five years. Shortly before his retirement from Civil Service, he entered the furniture business. Earnest owned and operated Ernie's Furniture and Bedding on Lee Boulevard for several years.
On June 28, 1952, Earnest married Verla Grace Mosley in Topeka, Kansas. They established their home in Lawton and lived in the same residence for over sixty years.
In 1955 Earnest became interested in racing. To prove a point, mainly to himself, Earnest built a stock car and raced it at the Lawton Speedway. With slight modifications to the steering wheel, he was able to drive his own cars. He passed his love of racing to his sons and grandsons, who have also enjoyed participating in building and racing cars.
Earnest is survived by daughters Cheryl Holland and David of Wichita Falls, Gay Lynn Gordon and Larry of Lawton, and sons Darryl Gowan and Connie of Duncan, and Steve Gowan and Judy of Cache. He is also survived by one sister, Dorthy Bennett of Topeka, Kansas, eight grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Earnest was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Verla; a sister, Alta Lee Kanive; brothers Warren Gowan, Ethel "Bill" Gowan, and Marion Gowan; and daughters Jeanne and Joy.
